Former National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch expressed her skepticism about the Border Patrol’s narrative surrounding the fatal shooting in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Loesch appeared on CBS Mornings on Monday to respond to the footage of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Pretti was carrying a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun on his person at the time, but it was not in his hand. Open carry of a handgun is legal in Minnesota with a permit. Video shows that Pretti was disarmed before being shot multiple times.
“Watching what we saw in the video, I think we all have a lot of questions,” Loesch said. “I encourage people to carry. I encourage people to exercise their Second Amendment rights, but I also recognize that people need to be encouraged to de-escalate as well and make sure that you are not impeding any kind of federal investigation.”
“But, for the administration, they need to be careful with their words,” Loesch said.
This comment was in response to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller referring to Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” for carrying a firearm. DHS also alleged that Pretti had two magazines in his possession.
However, President Donald Trump did not characterize Pretti as a terrorist.
BORDER PATROL AGENTS INVOLVED IN PRETTI SHOOTING REASSIGNED
“I don’t like any shooting. I don’t like it,” Trump said when asked about the shooting on Sunday. “But I don’t like it when somebody goes into a protest, and he’s got a very powerful, fully-loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also. That doesn’t play good either.”
Pretti allegedly got involved during a federal operation. Pretti was present at the scene of what DHS called a “targeted” operation “against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault.”