What Karoline Leavitt Says the Press Is Missing About ICE Shooting

Multiple Trump administration agencies are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minnesota, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“I would just remind all of you in the media, because I’ve seen the lack of reporting on this fact,” Leavitt said at a White House press briefing on Monday. “There are investigations into what took place on Saturday.”

“Homeland Security and the FBI have teamed up for an investigation, and there’s also an internal [Customs and Border Patrol] investigation and internal review of what is happening on the ground in Minnesota,” she said.

“The president believes that these investigations are credible,” Leavitt continued. “They are continuing, they are active, and he wants to let them play out.”

President Donald Trump had previously told The Wall Street Journal his administration is “reviewing everything” about the shooting.

“Nobody, including President Trump, wants to see people get shot or hurt,” Leavitt said.

U.S. Border Patrol agents shot and killed Pretti while he was filming federal officers during a Minneapolis immigration enforcement operation.

The agents were seeking to arrest illegal immigrant Jose Huerta-Chuma, whose criminal history includes domestic assault for intentional conflict bodily harm, driving without a valid license, and disorderly conduct.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller referred to the nurse as “an assassin” who “tried to murder federal agents.”

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Pretti attacked law enforcement while “brandishing” a gun. However, Pretti’s family claims that he was “clearly not holding a gun” when he was “attacked” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The shooting has sparked bipartisan calls for congressional oversight.

Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., said, “A congressional hearing is a place where federal, state, and local community leaders can be heard.”

“There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into yesterday’s Minneapolis shooting,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., wrote.