PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) says Saturday’s fatal shooting of a protester in Minneapolis by a federal border patrol agent is “deeply concerning” and “requires comprehensive and transparent” investigation.
LaHood is responding for the first time to the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse described by Trump Administration officials as an armed domestic terrorist who sought to massacre police.
According to 25 News, LaHood called on federal, state, and local law enforcement to cooperate with the investigation. In a statement, LaHood said federal officers must be held to the “highest professional and ethical standards to maintain public trust.”
The following is LaHood’s statement:
“Exercising our first and second amendment rights is foundational to the American identity. Yesterday’s shooting in Minneapolis is deeply concerning and demands a comprehensive and transparent investigation with full cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement. I support the mission of our federal law enforcement officers and the critical role they play in keeping communities safe. However, with their authority, officers must be held to the highest professional and ethical standards to maintain public trust. Any use of force must be lawful, justified, and subject to full accountability.”
LaHood is one of two congressmen representing Central Illinois.
U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Moline) released a video on his social media pages Saturday, expressing outrage and demanding that leaders in both parties describe Pretti’s death as murder.
Sorensen also called on the U.S. Senate to block funding for the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said Saturday that they will both vote against funding the agencies.
Saturday’s shooting happened amid widespread daily protests in the Minneapolis area since the January 7th shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was killed when an ICE officer fired into her vehicle. LaHood called for an investigation into Good’s death as well.
Comments