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by Guy Page
After Minneapolis anti-ICE activist Renee Good was shot and killed as her car struck an ICE agent earlier this month, some Vermont elected Democrat leaders called it an act of murder. Following the weekend shooting death of a Minneapolis man struggling physically with federal authorities, Gov. Phil Scott and other elected Vermont Republicans are using the ‘murder’ word too.
He called for a pause on all immigration detention operations and urged Congress and the courts to “step up to restore constitutionality” in case of “absence of Presidential action.”
Homeland Security authorities immediately portrayed Alex Pretti, 37, as an armed domestic terrorist who threatened federal agents. Other observers say he was no longer armed with his pistol when he was shot to death. Several videos of the incident – here and here are two examples on X – have been seen on social media.
In the days since, social media users and independent observers have circulated alternative explanations of what may have occurred during the chaotic encounter.
One widely shared account suggests that during the struggle, one or more ICE officers shouted “gun,” prompting another officer to draw a weapon. According to this version, Pretti’s sidearm was removed by an officer who then walked away, but the weapon discharged negligently. Some commentators point to the Sig Sauer P320 handgun, which has been the subject of lawsuits and controversy over unintentional discharges, typically when dropped. The theory suggests the discharge may have led other agents to believe Pretti was firing, resulting in what they perceived as a justified use of deadly force. “If this is what happened, it’s an incredibly unfortunate accident,” one commenter wrote.
In a media statement released over the weekend, Gov. Scott said that regardless of the precise sequence of events, the outcome was unacceptable. “Enough…it’s not acceptable for American citizens to be killed by federal agents for exercising their God-given and constitutional rights to protest their government,” Scott said.
“At best, these federal immigration operations are a complete failure of coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices, training, and leadership,” he continued. “At worst, it’s a deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens that’s resulting in the murder of Americans. Again, enough is enough.
“The President should pause these operations, de-escalate the situation, and reset the federal government’s focus on truly criminal illegal immigrants. In the absence of Presidential action, Congress and the Courts must step up to restore constitutionality.”
Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers echoed Scott’s remarks in a public statement.
“Thank you, Governor Scott, for your courageous leadership,” Rodgers said. “I stand with you, as all law-abiding Americans should, in calling on the President to suspend the operations of federal agents in our communities, de-escalate the situation, and reset the federal government’s focus on truly criminal illegal immigrants.”
Rodgers added that he was urging lawmakers to intervene if the executive branch does not. “I urge my colleagues in the Judiciary and Congress to assert your constitutional authority to restore order and calm if the Executive will not. Everyone’s constitutional rights must be protected. Not one more American should die at the hands of federal government agents. Not a single one.”
Meanwhile, the state of Minnesota has filed suit against the federal government following Pretti’s death. The lawsuit, brought by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, alleges that federal immigration officers shot and killed Pretti on a public street in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026, and then prevented state and local authorities from investigating the shooting.
According to the complaint, when state investigators arrived at the scene, federal personnel ordered them to leave and denied access to the area and to critical evidence. Federal agents reportedly seized cell phones and detained witnesses. Minnesota officials argue that it remains unclear whether the scene was properly processed or evidence preserved before federal agents departed, allowing the perimeter to collapse and increasing the risk that key evidence was lost or contaminated.
The shooting has also prompted commentary from Vermont media figures. Ross Connolly, retired editor and publisher of the Hardwick Gazette, weighed in with a letter to the editor published in the Vermont Daily Chronicle.
“No judge. No jury. No trial.
Put him on the ground.
Shoot him.
He’s dead,” Connolly wrote, underscoring concerns about due process and the use of lethal force.
At least one GOP lawmaker reposted Scott’s statement with approval. “I agree with Gov. Scott’s statement below. Enough is enough,” Rep. Carolyn Branagan (R-Georgia) wrote on social media over the weekend.
Branagan’s endorsement drew praise from some constituents but criticism from others. Former Chittenden County Senate candidate Rohan Isloved faulted Branagan, Scott and other state leaders for what he described as years of inaction on border security. “Why didn’t you urge Biden to secure the borders?” Isloved wrote. “Why are residents of Vermont bearing the financial burden for undocumented immigrants? Let’s be frank… this situation didn’t arise overnight; it was Scott’s silence and backing of Biden that contributed to this issue. So let’s not place the blame on Donald J. Trump.”
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Categories: Law Enforcement, National News, Public Safety
Of course he does. Where is his outrage at paid agitators and rioters? Where was his outrage at illegal immigration? Another loser who puts himself ahead of our country.
Thanks Abby! Let’s be honest!
This is just another example of the same Trump Derangement Syndrome we have seen many, many times. It is blatantly obvious that Scott and Rodgers both oppose anything and everything Trump says or does even when he is enforcing legitimate U.S. Federal Immigration Laws.
Scott and Rodgers should openly assess themselves and their actions. What credibility do they really have to speak out? They are both violating their Oaths of Office on an ongoing basis as they pick and choose which Laws to enforce. Are they above the Law?
Just like Minnesota Elected Government Officials, Scott and Rodgers are ignoring our U.S. Constitution and the authority of our U.S. Federal Immigration Laws. Both are allowing Vermont to be an illegal sanctuary state that welcomes unvetted illegal aliens to live in Vermont.
They further break U.S. Federal Law as they protect a state system that harbors illegal aliens using taxpayer monies to pay for their housing, food, legal, educational, etc. It’s no wonder our VT State Budget is over 9 Billion Dollars!
It’s our Citizen Constitutional Duty (Article 6) to hold our Elected Officials legally accountable. Write to Scott and Rodgers to ask them why they are ignoring U.S. Federal Laws.
There are currently 24,067 names of officers killed in the line of duty inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, dating back to the first known death in 1786. The deadliest year on record for law enforcement was 2021, when 586 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. NLEOMF anticipates adding at least 244 names to the sacred walls in the Spring of 2025, representing the current and historical deaths which, to date, have been approved as line-of-duty deaths.
the NLEOMF data shows that 147 federal, state, county, municipal, military, tribal, and campus officers have died in the line of duty in 2024, representing a 25% increase compared to the 118 officers who died in the line of duty in 2023.
I remember in NYC two cops were setting in their vehicle and a gunman walked up to them and killed both, little news. Don’t believe the gunman was ever caught.
There’s more liberal news about people that riot and endanger those that protect us like what’s happening in MN. MN is out of control.
Most of the news is about how nice these two people that died than the people assigned to protect the public. Stupid Don Lemon et al. Yet this is about the only concern Scott and similar others comment about, it’s a political “caring”.
https://nleomf.org/2024-law-enforcement-fatalities-report-reveals-law-enforcement-deaths-increased/
I come here for the ludicrous comments and they rarely disappoint.
I laud Governor Scott for being the only Republican governor for taking a stand against Trump and his fascist regime.
Por favor, señor, busque la definición de fasismo. Antes de cagarte encima. Sólo los demócratas quieren ponerlo todo dentro del gobierno.
Are you any relation to Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), you sound like her. Hope Davy Crockett ‘s name isn’t smeared.
Some interesting comments, particularly since Gov Walz called out the National Guard to provide warming stations and refreshments to the rioters, oh sorry protestors. The Democrats are covering as usual for their own Facism
“De-escalate” is the current “safe and effective.”
On that same date, nearly 40 persons across the country were shot, stabbed and murdered. Where were the tears and the outrage. BTW, in Wisconsin you can stand your ground if you believe you are in eminent danger and should run away only if you started the fight.
I recall how some on the far left tried to minimize the killing of Charlie Kirk. They were rightfully condemned by most all Americans.
Tucker Carlson when he spoke to conservatives said after the killing of Rene Goode “This 37-year-old was an American citizen and mother of a kindergarten-aged child. Did we disagree with her on immigration? Probably. But that shouldn’t matter.”
“Her death is a tragedy, regardless of her partisan affiliations, ideological beliefs, or who pulled the trigger”.
Now after the shooting in the back of a American Veterans Hospital ICU nurse, Governor Scott’s position that “enough is enough” and changes to how these ill-trained agents are operating is reasonable. We need, in the words of Lt. Governor Rogers, “to de-escalate and re-set the federal government’s focus on truly criminal illegal immigrants”.
Now we should go after the criminal.Politicians like phil, scott and john rodgers… They voted for this mess and they encouraged what is happening today..
Not a word about the poor innocent lives.Lost at the hands of these invaders of america who have raped and murdered our young girls.And sodomized young boys and girls..
We need to remove both of these fools from office
The criminal agitators won’t allow us to get illegals out. Doing everything they can to stop us from investigating the fraud. Scott and Rodgers are wrong. We need illegals out, or fully sponsored by employers. Paid agitators and rioters are not ok. They must be stopped…everywhere in the USA.
Since all illegals are criminally here, kindly describe what ‘truly criminal’ means. Perhaps we should have categories: Generally Peaceful Criminal, Slightly Aggressive Criminal, Slightly More Aggressive Criminal, Truely Criminal.
Of course they wouldn’t condemn the elected officials calling for interference with ICE.
1. Democrats/Progressives are encouraging civilians to interfere with ICE. Dem/Progs are the ones who need to tone down the incitement. It is Dems/Progs that are fomenting citizen anger/outrage over collecting and deporting people who have entered the country illegally, using road blocking, directing traffic, interference with ICE, as a method of intimidation against ICE officers. Blocking the roads is not a constitutional right.
This being said, the videos I watched of this incident make the ICE officers appear to be ill trained.
2. If only Gov Scott had such strong language about the assassination of Charlie Kirk instead of telling people to “come together” after the public execution of Kirk. What a hypocrite.
I make no commentary about last weekend’s events, only about Gov Scott’s comment: ““Enough…it’s not acceptable for American citizens to be killed by federal agents for exercising their God-given and constitutional rights to protest their government,” Scott said.”” I agree citizens have the right to protest their government and exercise their 1st amendment rights…sad though, that the dream of our founders “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” isn’t available for the innocent unborn that Scott chucked under the bus years ago! I guess he thinks they don’t count. 😢😥😡
Two areas where I disagree with the Governor. Peaceful protests (like what President Trump asked for on January 6) are a lawful “GOD given right, TRUE but that is NOT what’s going on in Minnesota. Second, carrying a gun shouldn’t give you a false bravado, it should be for non instigating self defense. It looks to me like the victim was hunting for confrontation.
RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES and now find out who is putting up the money to keep this dog and pony show going to keep you distracted.
If I drive through your town and you run out in front of my vehicle, your choice puts me into a situation where I have a two second window to decide what to do. Do I hit the brakes, step on the throttle, swerve into an oncoming vehicle. Sometimes your choices can seal someone’s fate when you have not thought it through and you are depending on everyone else to change their response to satisfy you. So, basically, both protestors that lost their lives were due to the choices they made putting others in a position to make split second decisions.
is Governor Scott equating murder with homicide? he has never been the sharpest pencil in the box
How about instead a knee jerk reaction, wait for the investigation to be done?
To say Gov. Scott and Lt. Gov. Rodgers “joined” the Democrat narrative is an oxymoron.
I’m writing this before reading other comments so as not to be biased. Yes, there is grave concern. The concern is that the Minnesota leadership may be involved with inciting people to interfere with law enforcement. What social media is the leadership involved in? Are they directing influence to incite people like the man who was shot to get involved with federal law enforcement business?
Meanwhile, the same people at the top of the influence pedaling have been indited for their involvement in the Somalia fraud. Many of those (including Gov. Walz) have direct involvement and have documented funding to their political campaigns from the fraudulent organizations.
We need to reach out to the people of Minnesota and ask them to show restraint: How do we explain that they may be under the influence of bad propaganda. We do not need any more “heros” like Pretti, God rest his soul.
Being an ICU nurse at a VA hospital has absolutely no bearing on what happened to Mr. Pretti. I suppose being a nurse is sometimes stressful and maybe he went off the deep end.
You’re doing the opposite of what we want. We want illegals return to their own countries. We want them gone so we can fill jobs with Americans. The unemployment rate should be zero. Democrats have destroyed this country. We are waiting for the federal officers to get to Vermont so we can point out every illegal here
Suddenly the democrats have become big supporters of the right to bear arms when one of their useful idiots makes a bad decision about carrying when he set out for the day with full intention to get into a physical confrontation with law enforcement officers. Just because he was disarmed of one weapon, does not mean that he does not have another. A suggestion for anyone, armed or not, when you intend to engage in aggressive actions with the police…when they tell you to show your hands, you dont go reaching for something. Rest in peace, jackass.
WOW Phil! You’re on the WRONG side, again! These prottesters are not peaceably assembling as our First Amendment directs.
Sad anyone dies, but where is their personal responsibility. They exhibited bad decisions, as are all the people violating the 1st Amendment.
“… God given and constitutional right to protect their government” what in Heavens name are you saying… I’m not going deeper with you on this, it is an abject failure, horrible message.
You would do better calling your buddy Tim and encourage him to COOPERATE with ICE Enforcement and turnover these illegals and unvetted criminal aleins to them. There are over 6,000 criminal aleigns in MN. This junk would not be happening if “Tanpon” Walz and the “2nd-Grader” Frey would stop encouraging people to fight ICE, and work with to keep their communities safe for everyone.
Your facts are INCORRECT on this one and the Ms. Good situation.
You cite the Constitution Phil, have you ever read it? Are you familiar with the SUPREMACY CLAUS, Article 6, Sec II? How about the First and Fourth Amemdments in our Bill of Rights? And again, do you understand “peaceably assemble!”
How about our Immigration Laws, Phil, have you ever read them.
Good then you should know and understand that the Federal government is superior over the States and local jurisdictions. And that ICE Enforcement is prolulgated by Congress, and both democrats and republican voted for these laws to be enacted. Moreover, former Presidents; Obama, Clinton, and Bush (43) deported millions of aleins out of America.
Lastly Phil, you should join me and be a real leader and encourage President Trump to institute the Insurrection Act to clean up this mess that Biden created. Why are other sanctuary jurisdictions working together with ICE Enforcement & the Trump Administration..
Quick question, would you as Governor of Vermont work with ICE Enforcement or would you not cooperate? Pretty simple, Phil.
Our “republican” governor taking the side of violators of Law & Order?