Timberwolves, Warriors Resume Game After Border Patrol Shooting
Game resumed Jan. 25 after the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol agent less than two miles from Target Center.
Overview
The NBA rescheduled the Minnesota Timberwolves–Golden State Warriors game for Jan. 25, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. CT after the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol agent less than two miles from Target Center, the league said.
The postponement came amid protests against a Department of Homeland Security immigration enforcement operation that officials said deployed about 3,000 federal officers to Minneapolis this month and amid contested accounts of the shootings, with DHS characterizing uses of force as defensive while witnesses and video reportedly contradict those narratives, news reports show.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and Warriors coach Steve Kerr described a somber atmosphere, with Finch saying in pregame remarks that he spoke 'on behalf of the team' and Kerr calling it 'one of the most bizarre, sad games I've ever been a part of' in postgame remarks.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activated 1,500 Minnesota National Guard troops and publicly urged President Donald Trump to withdraw federal agents from the city, and local officials have criticized the scale of the federal presence, officials confirmed.
Investigations into Alex Jeffrey Pretti's Jan. 24 killing are underway, with the Department of Homeland Security and local authorities reviewing body-camera and other footage, and the NBA said it adjusted schedules to 'prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community,' officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story by foregrounding emotive language ("gunned down," "brutal"), centering local officials' condemnations and protest chants, and highlighting sympathetic visuals and tributes. Editorial choices emphasize federal culpability while omitting ICE or federal responses; quote selection and event juxtaposition amplify outrage and minimize countervailing explanations.
Sources (13)
FAQ
DHS claims Pretti approached Border Patrol agents with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and resisted disarming, justifying defensive shots[1][2]. Video evidence verified by Reuters, The New York Times, CBS News, and The Guardian shows Pretti holding a cell phone, not a gun, was directing traffic, helping a woman, and was tackled and shot multiple times while on the ground[1].
Alex Jeffrey Pretti was a 37-year-old American intensive care nurse working at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Witnesses stated he was directing traffic and approached agents with a camera or phone to help a woman, not with a gun.
About 3,000 federal officers from DHS were deployed for an immigration enforcement operation, leading to protests. The shooting occurred amid this operation less than two miles from Target Center during an NBA game postponement[story][1].
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called DHS's account 'nonsense,' activated 1,500 National Guard troops, and urged withdrawal of federal agents. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and Warriors coach Steve Kerr described a somber atmosphere around the resumed game[story][2]. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem accused Pretti of being a domestic terrorist.
History
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