Videos show protesters attack Home2 Suites hotel in Minneapolis, injuring federal agent

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Protesters clashed on Sunday, January 25, with federal immigration officers outside the Home2 Suites by Hilton as demonstrations continued in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal agents.

Demonstrators surrounded the hotel at around 9.30 pm, believing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel were staying there, intensifying tensions amid a wider outcry over federal enforcement tactics in the city.

Border Patrol agents were filmed pointing less-lethal weapons and deploying tear gas at protesters and journalists outside the hotel, where Minneapolis police made no visible effort to clear the area. 

Protesters target hotel in Minneapolis

Two federal immigration officers were encircled by a crowd of anti-ICE protesters inside the lobby of the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Minneapolis on Sunday evening as demonstrations intensified across the city.

Witness videos showed activists shouting at the officers at close range while blocking their movement inside the hotel. One officer appeared to have a bloodied hand and was heard repeatedly calling for backup as tensions escalated in the confined space.

The confrontation came after protesters had gathered outside the hotel for more than an hour, believing ICE personnel were staying there. Demonstrators chanted, blocked nearby streets, and pressed into the building as federal agents attempted to maintain control of the scene.

Border Patrol officers were later filmed deploying tear gas and pointing less-lethal weapons toward protesters and members of the press outside the hotel, while Minneapolis police were not seen actively dispersing the crowd.

Federal authorities defend agents' actions

Federal authorities have defended actions taken by agents in Minneapolis, renewing claims that Pretti posed a threat during the January 24 incident.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, including Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, have reiterated that investigations into the shooting are ongoing and that agents acted in accordance with protocols, though they have not confirmed if Pretti ever pointed a weapon at officers. Bovino praised the agents and described them as victims of the confrontation.

The DHS maintains that it is conducting a targeted enforcement operation aimed at individuals involved in violent crimes. However, federal weaponization claims have been sharply contested.

Multiple eyewitness and bystander videos of the Pretti shooting show him holding a phone, not a gun, and being pinned to the ground before being shot — raising serious questions about the government’s original narrative.

Local officials cite safety concerns

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner and had no criminal history, underscoring discrepancies between federal statements and evidence seen in bystander footage. The city has also seen large memorials grow at the site of Pretti’s death, where signs reading “Justice for Alex Pretti” and chants of “ICE out now” have been common.

Some Minneapolis residents said what began as a peaceful protest escalated into a confrontation when federal agents used chemical agents and physical force against crowds, including blocking streets with garbage dumpsters and dragging protesters into police vehicles.