UFC fighter Sean Strickland has caused a major stir online with his remarks about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
On Saturday, 37-year-old NCU nurse Pretti was shot dead as he attempted to help a bystander during a targeted immigration enforcement operation from ICE (Immigration, Customs and Enforcement) agents.
Eyewitnesses stated that Pretti was pepper sprayed after walking towards an ICE agent and as a struggle ensued, he was shot at multiple times by the same officer.
Pretti was later pronounced dead at the scene, making it a second incident in the city following the killing of Renee Nicole Good in her car at the start of the month.
Advert
Video footage of the incident soon circulated online and was followed by protests. President Donald Trump said his administration are "reviewing everything" in relation to what happened.
The US Department of Homeland Security claimed that "defensive shots" were fired by the agent as he was "fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officer".
They stated that Pretti was carrying a Sig Sauer P320 9mm pistol, of which he had a legal permit to carry - and “violently resisted” when officials made attempts to disarm him.
U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said Pretti "wanted to 'massacre law enforcement", while he was branded a "would-be assassin" by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller on social media.
.jpg)
Former UFC middleweight champion Strickland is one of the most outspoken athletes and he shared a series of posts in the wake of the shooting.
In his first post, he claimed that Pretti "wanted to die" and had been "radicalized".
Quoting a clip of a discussion about the incident, Strickland wrote: "NO!! you do have that right...
"BUT If youre [sic] being arrested and reach for it and grab a magazine instead YOURE MOST LIKELY GOING TO GET SHOT..
"This is a case of being radicalized. In my opinion he wanted to die. NO CCW HOLDER WOULD BE THAT STUPID. It was intentional."
In a second tweet on X, he added: "Nobody with a CCW is reaching for a mag or gun while being arrested....
"Couple rules we live by. Only shoot if your life is in danger...
"AND the most important. Keep your hands up and dont [sic] reach for a gun while dealing with a cop especially if being arrested."
He then shared what he believed to be a video of the incident, writing: "Unless this video is fake you will die 100 percent of the time reaching for your holster and grabbing a object while getting arrested..
"I repeat in any situation this will result in your death 100 percent of the time.."
Pretti family issue statement calling out sickening lies
Though a handgun was retrieved from Pretti's waistband prior the shooting, it is claimed that videos of the incident showed that he was holding his phone while approaching federal agents and not a loaded weapon.
In a statement about the death, the Pretti family said they are "heartbroken but also very angry" as they paid tribute to their son, whose "last thought and act was to protect a woman".
As per CNN's Brian Stelter, the family said the "lies" told by the administration are "reprehensible and disgusting" as they strongly denied suggestions that Pretti "violently resisted” agents.
"Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs," the family fumed.
"He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.
"Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man."
Topics: UFC
Josh Lawless