Musicians Outraged After ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

Several prominent rock musicians, including Graham Nash, Neal Schon, and Tom Morello, took to social media to express outrage after a Border Patrol agent fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday.

What Happened to Alex Pretti?

Federal agents in Minneapolis shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, during an encounter in which he appeared to be filming U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers on his phone. Video footage circulating online shows agents restraining Pretti on the ground and striking him, while another officer is seen leaving the scene with what looks like a firearm.

The videos appear to challenge official claims that Pretti approached Border Patrol officers while armed with a 9mm handgun and attacked them, according to reporting from ABC News.

Pretti’s death was the second fatal shooting involving a federal agent in Minneapolis this month. Earlier in January, ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good. Both incidents have sparked nationwide demands for deeper investigations and renewed calls to dismantle ICE.

In a statement released by their attorneys, Good’s family described the weekend’s events as “terrifying, deeply disturbing, and heartbreaking,” noting that another U.S. citizen lost their life while engaging in what they called a constitutionally protected act: peacefully observing and advocating.

The family urged Americans to rely on the video evidence and to demand an end to ICE operations in Minneapolis, arguing that the agency has exceeded its mission. “ICE agents can leave Minneapolis,” the statement read. “The residents of Minnesota cannot.”

Graham Nash’s Condemnation of ICE and Trump

Graham Nash posted a lengthy and forceful response on Instagram, sharply criticizing ICE and addressing those who frequently tell him to “stick to music.” Nash pointed out that his work has been politically charged for decades and questioned why anyone would be surprised by his outspokenness on social and political issues.

He reflected on his long history of writing and performing songs centered on politics, environmental issues, and generational responsibility, referencing well-known protest anthems from his career. Nash ended his post with an explicit denunciation of ICE and President Donald Trump, condemning what he described as government-sanctioned violence.

Other Rock Musicians React

Other artists echoed Nash’s anger with shorter but equally blunt statements. Journey guitarist Neal Schon posted that the situation was “insane” and demanded it come to an end. When told by another user to stay out of politics, Schon responded directly, stating that what happened was wrong.

Tom Morello also engaged with critics online. After calling Trump a “murdering idiot” in a separate post, he responded to a commenter by accusing them of supporting masked federal agents killing U.S. citizens.

Not all reactions criticized Border Patrol. Conservative rocker Ted Nugent shared a Facebook post defending federal law enforcement, urging people not to interfere with agents carrying out their duties and warning that doing so could cost lives.