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By Jenna Sundel
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Kyle Rittenhouse has criticized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries after the Democrat drew comparisons between the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents and Rittenhouse's fatal shooting of two men protesting against police brutality.
On Sunday, Jeffries wrote on Facebook, "Armed vigilante kills two civilians in Wisconsin and is called a hero by Trump and Far-Right extremists. Law-abiding VA nurse is killed by masked thugs in Minnesota and they label him a domestic terrorist. These are sick people."
The Department of Homeland Security said on social media that an individual later identified as Pretti had approached Border Patrol officers on Saturday with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. "The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted," the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wrote. "More details on the armed struggle are forthcoming. Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene."
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Newsweek reached out to Jeffries and Rittenhouse for comment via email.
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The Context
In bystander videos of the shooting, Pretti is seen with a phone in his hand. The footage does not appear to show him with a visible weapon. Family members said Pretti owned a handgun and had a permit to carry a concealed firearm in Minnesota.
Pretti's killing adds further scrutiny to immigration enforcement agents, who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this month. His death has also brought gun rights back into the national spotlight. The administration has criticized Pretti for bringing a firearm to a protest, sparking backlash from gun rights groups.
What To Know
In 2020, Rittenhouse shot three men—killing two and injuring a third—in Kenosha, Wisconsin, at a Black Lives Matter protest that began after a police officer shot Jacob Blake.
Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, argued that he fired in self-defense after the men attacked him and was acquitted on all charges.
On Monday, Rittenhouse responded to Jeffries on X, saying it was the lawmaker's "supporters—pedophiles and woman beaters—who ATTACKED me in the streets of Kenosha. Now he wants to continue defending these degenerates and use my situation for rage bait and stoke the flames. NOPE."
Earlier, Rittenhouse had reposted an X post by Brandon Herrera that appeared to reference Pretti's shooting.
Herrera, a Republican congressional candidate in Texas, wrote, "Man, it's really cool to be called both a 'bootlicker' and 'anti-cop' at the same time for saying I want to wait to learn more details before I have an informed opinion."
Rittenhouse also posted on X, "Carry everywhere. It is your right. #ShallNotBeInfringed"
While the post did not mention the shooting, there has been debate over whether Pretti should have been carrying a gun at the time of the incident.
According to DHS, the incident in Minnesota began at 9:05 a.m. as the department's law enforcement officers were conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis. The agency said officials were pursuing an "illegal alien wanted for violent assault."
DHS alleged that an individual approached the federal officers with a handgun. The agency said the individual also had two magazines and no identification.
"This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement," DHS said. "About 200 rioters arrived at the scene and began to obstruct and assault law enforcement on the scene, crowd control measures were deployed for the safety of the public and law enforcement."
Family identified the man killed as Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital.
"He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset," Michael Pretti, his father, told the Associated Press. "He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests."
Several pro-gun advocacy groups and some Republican lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the shooting. The NRA wrote on X, "Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens."
Gun Owners of America wrote that it was essential that the Justice Department "conduct a complete, transparent, and prompt investigation so the public can fully understand what occurred and maintain confidence in the rule of law."
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "This is the gunman's gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go—What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren't they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves—Not an easy thing to do!"
Gun Owners of America wrote on X: "We are saddened by the loss of life in Minneapolis, Minnesota earlier today during a federal law-enforcement operation. Because details remain limited and facts are still emerging, it is essential that @theJusticeDept conduct a complete, transparent, and prompt investigation so the public can fully understand what occurred and maintain confidence in the rule of law."
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina wrote on X: "There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into yesterday's Minneapolis shooting, which is the basic standard that law enforcement and the American people expect following any officer-involved shooting. For this specific incident, that requires cooperation and transparency between federal, state, and local law enforcement. Any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump's legacy."
What Happens Next
Several Republican lawmakers, including Tillis and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have joined their Democratic colleagues in calling for a comprehensive, independent investigation into the shooting.
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Update 1/26/26, 3:22 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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