US athletes took to the streets after the death of paramedic Alex Pretti, shot by Border Patrol agents

The death of 37-year-old paramedic Alex Pretti, killed in Minneapolis by Border Patrol agents, has sparked chaos on the streets of Minnesota. American sports figures are joining the protests launched by ordinary citizens. The incident came amid massive protests against a federal immigration crackdown​​ and came shortly after the Jan. 7 killing of Renée Good, also by federal officers.

Alex Pretti, killed by federal agents PHOTO Facebook

At the last Golden Globes, actors and actresses protested the actions of ICE (the anti-immigration agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement) by wearing “Be Good” badges, and now athletes are taking a stand, too. Some took to the streets braving Minnesota's freezing temperatures, like Alan Page, an NFL champion with the Vikings, the 1971 MVP and elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court after retiring from football. A photo of him on the street during the protests is making the rounds on the Internet and was published by the “Wall Street Journal”.

Former NFL running back Ryan Clark called Pretti a hero on social media, asking for prayers for him and his family and calling his death “meaninglessVikings player Dwight McGlothern Jr. wrote: “It's not right what's happening in Minnesota“.

Athletes are not the only ones talking about the incident in Minneapolis. Indiana Pacers NBA player Tyrese Haliburton wrote on social media: “Alex Pretti was killed”, a message that has been viewed more than 6.4 million times and has accumulated 200,000 likes.

Did he have a gun on him or not?

Following the incident in Minneapolis, WNBA star Angel Reese posted on social media: “I pray for our country“.

Alex Pretti was killed on the street in Minneapolis by Border Patrol agents. According to accounts given by witnesses, also presented in videos shared on social networks, the man was immobilized by agents, who knocked him to the ground before shooting him.

The Department of Homeland Security explained that agents were in the area looking for an undocumented immigrant accused of assault and were approached by Pretti, who was reportedly carrying a 9mm handgun and two magazines. According to the department's version, Pretti allegedly resisted violently before the officers opened fire.

Pretti's family offers a different version, claiming that the aide had no weapon but, as seen in the released videos, was holding his phone with his right hand to record what was happening while trying to defend a woman from ICE agents with his left.