Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled a Border Patrol shooting suspect’s actions as domestic terrorism, accusing Democrat Minnesota officials of inciting violence.<\/b>
\nDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday labeled the alleged actions of the suspect killed in a Border Patrol-involved shooting in Minneapolis as \u00ab\u00a0domestic terrorism\u00a0\u00bb, accusing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of inciting violence against federal officers while stressing that President Donald Trump is prepared to invoke the Insurrection Act if deemed necessary.
\u00ab\u00a0When you perpetuate violence against a government because of ideological reasons and for reasons to resist and perpetuate violence, that is the definition of domestic terrorism\u00a0\u00bb, Noem said during a news conference at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
\u00ab\u00a0This individual who came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers committed an act of domestic terrorism\u00a0\u00bb, Noem added. \u00ab\u00a0That\u2019s the facts.\u00a0\u00bb
Noem described the incident beginning while DHS officers carried out \u00ab\u00a0targeted operations\u00a0\u00bb in Minneapolis against an illegal alien whose criminal history included domestic assault, disorderly conduct, and driving without a valid license.
\u00ab\u00a0An individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun\u00a0\u00bb, and agents attempted to disarm him. \u00ab\u00a0The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently\u00a0\u00bb, Noem said. \u00ab\u00a0Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots.\u00a0\u00bb
Medics attempted to render aid, Noem said, but the man, later identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, \u00ab\u00a0was pronounced dead at the scene.\u00a0\u00bb
She also claimed that the Pretti had \u00ab\u00a0two magazines with ammunition in them that held dozens of rounds\u00a0\u00bb and no identification.
\u00ab\u00a0This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement\u00a0\u00bb, Noem said.
The shooting was followed by unrest in the area, Noem said.
\u00ab\u00a0Hundreds of protesters then showed up at the scene\u00a0\u00bb, she said. \u00ab\u00a0They began to obstruct and to assault law enforcement officers\u00a0\u00bb, she added. \u00ab\u00a0We saw objects being thrown at them, including ice and other objects, and a rampant assault began.
\u00ab\u00a0A [Homeland Security Investigation] HSI agent\u2019s finger was bitten off.\u00a0\u00bb
She said crowd-control measures were deployed \u00ab\u00a0to bring safety to the public and to law enforcement at the scene.\u00a0\u00bb
Noem said the situation \u00ab\u00a0did not have to happen\u00a0\u00bb, placing blame on Minnesota\u2019s political leadership.
\u00ab\u00a0The Minnesota governor and the Minneapolis mayor need to take a long, hard look in the mirror\u00a0\u00bb, she said. \u00ab\u00a0They need to evaluate their rhetoric, their conversations, and their encouragement of such violence against our citizens and our law enforcement officers.\u00a0\u00bb
She also accused Walz of undermining federal officers. \u00ab\u00a0I\u2019ll remind you that Governor Walz, today in his press conference, said that our officers were not even law enforcement, which is a lie\u00a0\u00bb, Noem said. \u00ab\u00a0He\u2019s called them the Gestapo.\u00a0\u00bb
Noem further claimed Walz \u00ab\u00a0encouraged residents and citizens and violent rioters to resist\u00a0\u00bb, and alleged that state leaders had doxed federal officers, \u00ab\u00a0putting themselves and their families\u2019 lives in jeopardy.\u00a0\u00bb
During the briefing, Noem was asked whether Trump was closer to invoking the Insurrection Act in response to the unrest. She did not rule it out.
\u00ab\u00a0The president will use every tool that he needs to follow through on his promises to the American people\u00a0\u00bb, Noem said.
She added that the Trump administration would continue operating in Minneapolis despite objections from state and local leaders.
\u00ab\u00a0We\u2019re going to treat Minneapolis exactly the way that we have treated every other city across this country\u00a0\u00bb, Noem said, referring to immigration enforcement operations like Operation Metro Surge underway nationwide.
Noem said DHS is investigating the shooting \u00ab\u00a0just like we do all other officer-involved shootings\u00a0\u00bb, and that additional details would be released as the investigation continues.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment in response to Noem’s remarks.<\/p>\n