LIVE UPDATES | ICE in MN: Walz speaks on Pretti shooting, judge orders evidence preserved, vigils honor memory

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minnesota Gov. Walz implored President Trump to end the surge of Border Patrol and ICE agents in the state, saying the discussion has moved beyond politics and is now about "basic human decency."

ICE continues its operations in Minnesota a day after a federal agent fatally shot a second person in Minneapolis.

A judge made an overnight ruling to grant a temporary restraining order that says the federal government must preserve all evidence related to the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol agent on Saturday morning. 

Meanwhile, the Hennepin County Attorney is asking the public to submit any evidence or information related to the shooting to her office.

Candlelight vigils honoring Pretti’s memory were held across the Twin Cities and the country Saturday night. And several events are planned on Sunday as local leaders continue to call for an end to ICE's Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. 

Find live updates on this shooting below. Watch FOX 9 live in the player above. Live events and other updates can be viewed below.

4 p.m. - Timberwolves ‘heartbroken’ by Alex Pretti's death

The Minnesota Timberwolves were scheduled to host the Golden State Warriors Saturday afternoon, but the game was postponed after Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration operation in south Minneapolis.

The game is being played Sunday, and Timberwolves’ coach Chris Finch gave an emotional opening statement during his pregame availability about two hours before tip-off. Pretti’s death is the second since Operation Metro Surge started, and third shooting involving a federal agent.

Finch called Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr and the two made a decision to postpone the game. Timberwolves’ players didn’t feel comfortable playing in the aftermath of the shotoing.

"For the second time in less than three weeks, we’ve lost another beloved member of our community in the most unimaginable way. As an organization, we’re heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch," Finch said, at times getting choked up. "We just want to extend our thoughts, prayers and concern for Mr. Pretti and family, all the loved ones and everyone involved in such an unconscionable situation in a community we really love full of people who are by nature peaceful and prideful. We just stand in support of our great community. Playing basketball yesterday just didn’t feel like the right thing to do."

3:15 - Minnesota's CEOs, sports teams call for peace

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released a letter on behalf of the more than 60 CEOs, urging for an immediate de-escalation of tensions due to federal agents in the Twin Cities. The letter emphasizes the need for state, local, and federal officials to collaborate on finding real solutions. 

The Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota United FC, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx and Minnesota Wild also signed the petition.

3 p.m. Border Patrol, ICE leadership speak after fatal shooting of Alex Pretti

Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino continued to claim that Pretti was assaulting Border Patrol Agents. 

Footage from bystanders shows that Pretti was face down in the fetal position while one agent punched him, another took his gun from the back of his waistband and another fired about 10 shots, killing him. 

When pressed on the videos that showed Pretti never had a gun in his hand, Bovino deferred to the ongoing investigation.

"Many videos out there, many different accounts that you may see, that I may see, that anybody here may see," Bovino said while speaking to reporters. "That, folks, is why we have something called an investigation, to take what you're talking about, to take those videos to take witness statements, to tak officer statements. All those minute details that will paint a true picture, not a freeze-frame concept, and paint a larger picture of what really happened."

READ MORE: Border Patrol chief was 'outright lying' about previous ICE surge

2 p.m. Gov. Walz, AG Ellison full news conference

Minnesota Gov. Walz and Attorney General Kieth Ellison addressed the state and the nation following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti. 

1:30 p.m. AG Ellison Speech 

The Minnesota Attorney General spoke on the next legal steps that his office is taking to preserve evidence in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.

AG Ellison also spoke about the effort of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's efforts to investigate the shooting, despite personnel from the Department of Homeland Security preventing them from accessing the scene of the shooting.

1 p.m. - Gov. Walz Speech 

The full prepared speech from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz can be viewed above. 

Minnesota Governor Walz continued to implore President Trump to end the surge of Federal agents in the state.

He then spoke to the residents of Minnesota and the rest of the country.

"To Americans who are watching this right now. And I don't know, maybe you're watching it with curiosity, bewilderment, horror, scorn, or sympathy. I've got a question for all of you. What side do you want to be on?" the governor said. 

The Minnesota governor emphasized that the dialogue is no longer a matter of policy, but humanity.

Noon - Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green: ‘Legally carrying’ is not ‘brandishing’

Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green shared a post on Sunday morning saying, "Legally carrying a firearm is not the same as brandishing a firearm. I support American’s 1st and 4th amendment rights. There is nothing wrong with legally peacefully protesting and videoing."

Here's the full statement: 

"I impeached Biden’s Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, those were my articles of impeachment that passed in the House of Representatives. I unapologetically believe in border security and deporting criminal illegal aliens and I support law enforcement. However, I also unapologetically support the 2nd amendment. Legally carrying a firearm is not the same as brandishing a firearm. I support American’s 1st and 4th amendment rights. There is nothing wrong with legally peacefully protesting and videoing. MAGA, consider it like this. We lost our minds when we watched Biden’s FBI track down and aggressively carry out home invasions and arrest on peaceful J6’ers who walked in the Capitol through open doors. Imaging if one of our MAGA independent journalists or even just a MAGA supporter stood in the street outside a J6’ers house while Biden’s FBI carried out a law enforcement operation, home invasion, and arrest. Then Biden’s FBI goes to the MAGA guy videoing it all and shoves a woman with him to the ground and sprays them with bear spray then throws the MAGA guy to the ground as MAGA guy was trying to help the woman off the ground. Then Biden’s FBI beats MAGA guy on the ground, disarms MAGA guy, and then shoots him dead. What would have been our reaction? Both sides need to take off their political blinders. You are all being incited into civil war, yet none of it solves any of the real problems that we all face, and tragically people are dying."

11 a.m. - National Guard pulls back 

The City of Minneapolis announced that the Minnesota National Guard has pulled back from the area of where Pretti was fatally shot at 26th Street West and Nicollet Avenue after calm overnight activities.

City officials shared the following statement:

"The Minneapolis Police Department reports that there were no arrests or reports of burglaries or fires overnight, and activity remained overwhelmingly calm and peaceful. City crews cleared debris from the roadway to give emergency vehicles and others the ability to get through."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey shared the following statement: 

"The memorials and gatherings were peaceful. Thank you to our law enforcement partners, community organizations and leaders, City staff, and neighbors who helped keep things calm and safe last night. Let’s continue that collective effort today.

10 a.m. - Judge orders preservation of evidence

Overnight developments:

A U.S. district court judge granted a temporary restraining order for the State of Minnesota that says federal agencies can't alter or destroy any evidence related to the shooting of Alex Pretti.

Judge Eric Tostrud ruled on the Minnesota Attorney General's lawsuit during the late night hours after the fatal shooting.  

The Department of Homeland Security has until noon Monday, Jan. 26, to respond to the ruling.

An evidence hearing for the case is also scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26. 

Attorney General Ellison shared a statement on the shooting, saying, in part,

"A full, impartial, and transparent investigation into his shooting at the hands of DHS agents is non-negotiable. 

"Minnesota law enforcement is currently carrying out such an investigation, and it is essential that the evidence collected by federal agents is preserved and turned over to state officials."

As the investigations into this shooting continue, several state leaders are asking for the investigation to be handled by Minnesota law enforcement. 

This comes as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said they were blocked by federal agents from investigating the shooting scene.

Vigils honor Alex Pretti

Local perspective:

Hundreds of Twin Cities Community members came together to honor and remember Alex Pretti by holding a candlelight memorial at the scene of where he was fatally shot. 

Some held signs and spoke out against the ongoing federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota.

Colleagues and loved ones remember Pretti as a dedicated ICU nurse who worked for Veterans Affairs. 

READ MORE: Minneapolis shooting: What we know about Alex Pretti, the man killed by Border Patrol agent

Michael Pretti, his father who lives in Colorado, told The AP: 

"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. 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."

Pretti’s mother said he cared immensely about the direction the country was headed, especially the Trump administration’s rollback of environmental regulations, the AP says. 

Pretti’s ex-wife, who spoke to the Associated Press, said she was not surprised he would have been involved in protesting Trump’s immigration crackdown. She said she had not spoken to him since they divorced more than two years ago and she moved to another state. She said he's a Democratic voter and had participated in protests following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020. 

She described him as someone who might shout at law enforcement officers at a protest, but she had never known him to be physically confrontational, the AP reports. 

He got a permit to carry a concealed firearm about three years ago, she told the AP. He owned at least one semiautomatic handgun when they separated.