Hochul Demands Noem’s Ouster After Minneapolis Shooting Sparks National Uproar

Paul Riverbank, 1/26/2026Minneapolis shootings ignite national outcry, disputed narratives, and fierce calls for accountability at the top.

Authorities say he was armed, waving a 9mm handgun in a way that spelled danger to anyone nearby. That’s the version given by Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, whose remarks on Sunday skirted apology in favor of effusive praise for his officers. According to him, Pretti posed a threat designed “to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” The response? Deadly force, delivered by agents who saw no other choice.

But that picture doesn’t map cleanly onto the accounts of those who were actually there. Several clips from bystanders – and if there’s one thing Minneapolis has in abundance, it’s cellphone video – show a very different man in his final moments: Pretti clutching a phone, not a gun. Eyewitnesses dispute the official storyline, stirring up the kind of confusion that can’t be untangled with a press release. And for those still reeling from the earlier shooting of Renée Nicole Good – another case where federal officials led with a heavy hand and sweeping accusations – the sense of unease is multiplying.

Governor Kathy Hochul didn’t wait to choose her words. “Kristi Noem has forfeited her right to lead,” she declared in Albany on Monday, making her message pointedly clear: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should either resign or be removed by, as she put it, "[President] Donald Trump [who] should do the right thing and fire her." Not stopping there, Hochul called for the ousting of Chief Bovino as well. She hinted at broader legal consequences, warning that states—New York included—were ready to challenge federal authorities in court if necessary.

For Hochul, the issue is as plain as it is painful. “No one is above the law. Not an ICE agent, not a federal officer, not the president,” she told a cluster of reporters. The governor left little doubt that she views the Minneapolis shootings as evidence of “reckless federal action,” accusing Noem of indifference to civilian safety. In a moment where every sound bite matters, she didn’t shy away from the kind of language that can galvanize a crowd.

Reaction was immediate and loud – as much outside the state as within its borders. Civil rights groups mobilized; candlelight vigils and marches cropped up in neighborhoods already wary of blue uniforms. Minneapolis itself was the epicenter, with Pretti's death sending hundreds to the streets. Meanwhile, federal officials maintained a public stance of resolute self-defense, sticking close to the script: "Our agents faced lethal threats and did what they were trained to do." The gap between the two stories only seemed to widen.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stepped in with a sharp reminder: his department, despite handling nearly 900 illegal firearms last year, didn’t fire a shot in 2023. “This is the third shooting now in less than three weeks,” he told local TV, his frustration barely masked. Local and federal law enforcement relations have clearly frayed. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported that Department of Homeland Security agents blocked them from examining the Pretti crime scene, despite an official warrant and even a restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud. Those tangles over access and evidence weave an added layer of uncertainty into an already fraught moment.

While city leaders and federal bosses volley accusations and defenses, Minneapolis residents find themselves in the crosshairs of a political and legal storm. The Pretti and Good families, left with grief and few answers, have become the focus of a fraught debate about accountability and authority. Hochul’s promise of “more action” on the horizon sounds both like a warning and a call. “When these people who have abused the power entrusted to them by their offices are finally out,” she vowed, “states including New York will hold them accountable.”

For all the statements and rebuttals, one thing remains certain: the haze of confusion around these shootings is thick, and there’s little sign of clarity coming soon. As Minneapolis braces for whatever comes next, the only constant is the raw uncertainty—a city on edge, waiting for answers that, for now, remain just out of reach.

It was shaping up to be an ordinary weekend in Minneapolis, until a pair of shootings jolted the city – and captured the nation’s attention. One name is now on everyone’s lips: Alex Jeffrey Pretti. Pretti, a 37-year-old working in an ICU and known locally for his involvement in protests, is the latest casualty in a recent streak of confrontations involving federal agents.Authorities say he was armed, waving a 9mm handgun in a way that spelled danger to anyone nearby. That’s the version given by Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, whose remarks on Sunday skirted apology in favor of effusive praise for his officers. According to him, Pretti posed a threat designed “to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” The response? Deadly force, delivered by agents who saw no other choice.But that picture doesn’t map cleanly onto the accounts of those who were actually there. Several clips from bystanders – and if there’s one thing Minneapolis has in abundance, it’s cellphone video – show a very different man in his final moments: Pretti clutching a phone, not a gun. Eyewitnesses dispute the official storyline, stirring up the kind of confusion that can’t be untangled with a press release. And for those still reeling from the earlier shooting of Renée Nicole Good – another case where federal officials led with a heavy hand and sweeping accusations – the sense of unease is multiplying.Governor Kathy Hochul didn’t wait to choose her words. “Kristi Noem has forfeited her right to lead,” she declared in Albany on Monday, making her message pointedly clear: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should either resign or be removed by, as she put it, "[President] Donald Trump [who] should do the right thing and fire her." Not stopping there, Hochul called for the ousting of Chief Bovino as well. She hinted at broader legal consequences, warning that states—New York included—were ready to challenge federal authorities in court if necessary.For Hochul, the issue is as plain as it is painful. “No one is above the law. Not an ICE agent, not a federal officer, not the president,” she told a cluster of reporters. The governor left little doubt that she views the Minneapolis shootings as evidence of “reckless federal action,” accusing Noem of indifference to civilian safety. In a moment where every sound bite matters, she didn’t shy away from the kind of language that can galvanize a crowd.Reaction was immediate and loud – as much outside the state as within its borders. Civil rights groups mobilized; candlelight vigils and marches cropped up in neighborhoods already wary of blue uniforms. Minneapolis itself was the epicenter, with Pretti's death sending hundreds to the streets. Meanwhile, federal officials maintained a public stance of resolute self-defense, sticking close to the script: "Our agents faced lethal threats and did what they were trained to do." The gap between the two stories only seemed to widen.Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stepped in with a sharp reminder: his department, despite handling nearly 900 illegal firearms last year, didn’t fire a shot in 2023. “This is the third shooting now in less than three weeks,” he told local TV, his frustration barely masked. Local and federal law enforcement relations have clearly frayed. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported that Department of Homeland Security agents blocked them from examining the Pretti crime scene, despite an official warrant and even a restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud. Those tangles over access and evidence weave an added layer of uncertainty into an already fraught moment.While city leaders and federal bosses volley accusations and defenses, Minneapolis residents find themselves in the crosshairs of a political and legal storm. The Pretti and Good families, left with grief and few answers, have become the focus of a fraught debate about accountability and authority. Hochul’s promise of “more action” on the horizon sounds both like a warning and a call. “When these people who have abused the power entrusted to them by their offices are finally out,” she vowed, “states including New York will hold them accountable.”For all the statements and rebuttals, one thing remains certain: the haze of confusion around these shootings is thick, and there’s little sign of clarity coming soon. As Minneapolis braces for whatever comes next, the only constant is the raw uncertainty—a city on edge, waiting for answers that, for now, remain just out of reach.