Hart, a Long Island native from Smithtown, decried the killing as an “execution” in a response to an Instagram post by the Department of Homeland Security Sunday, Jan. 25.
“If you get shot for carrying a weapon, with a permit to carry, you don’t have gun rights,” Hart, 49, wrote. “Not to mention we have eyes and can see clearly this was an execution of another American in pure daylight,” she added, referring to video footage circulating online.
Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a Veterans Administration hospital, was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24, during a confrontation involving US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations, as Daily Voice reported.
The Department of Homeland Security said an agent fired in self-defense after Pretti allegedly “violently resisted” efforts to disarm him and posed a threat to officers. Federal officials have described the encounter as a dangerous situation involving an armed individual.
However, eyewitness videos recorded from multiple angles and widely shared on social media appear to contradict parts of that account, showing Pretti with a holstered firearm that was removed by agents before he was shot.
The killing has triggered swift and widespread backlash, with high-profile entertainers and elected officials publicly criticizing federal immigration enforcement tactics.
At the Sundance Film Festival, Natalie Portman condemned what she called the “brutality of ICE,” while Olivia Wilde said she was “appalled and sickened” by the shooting in social media posts. Mark Ruffalo labeled the killing “cold-blooded murder,” and Jamie Lee Curtis wrote that Americans were “shot by our government.” Pedro Pascal and Billie Eilish also used social media to amplify criticism and call for accountability.
Democratic leaders echoed those concerns, with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz demanding the immediate withdrawal of federal agents from the state and rejecting the administration’s characterization of the incident. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey likened the federal operation to an “invasion” during a public statement.
At a White House press briefing Monday, Jan. 26, ABC News’ Mary Bruce asked whether President Donald Trump agreed with administration officials who labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she had not heard the president use that characterization.
Also Monday, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that body-worn camera footage from multiple agents is under review as part of the investigation. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told NBC News the agents involved were members of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit, an elite force equipped with multiple body cameras.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said all available video would be analyzed, while President Trump said his administration is “reviewing everything” related to the shooting. Trump also announced he is sending border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to oversee ICE operations.
Vigils and protests continued into the weekend as the community mourned Pretti’s death and demanded transparency. The NBA postponed the game between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center to Sunday, Jan. 25, citing the need to “prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community."
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