Locals seek shelter at Minneapolis church amid tensions after shooting

2026-01-26 03:27:04

(MENAFN) At Calvary Baptist Church in Minneapolis, residents found a brief refuge from the cold on Sunday as the community grappled with the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, by federal immigration agents on Saturday morning.

The 140-year-old church, located just blocks from the shooting site, has become a sanctuary amid the unrest following the second fatal encounter involving US citizens and federal agents in less than a month.

There was no service held on Sunday. Volunteers and staff, including daycare worker Ann Hotz, distributed coffee, snacks, and hand warmers to visitors. Many came to pay respects at a nearby memorial for Pretti or were returning from protests against the federal immigration enforcement operation in the city.

"Yesterday, I fell apart," Hotz told a news outlet. "Today I'm here to stand with my community and help our neighbours as they remember Alex and mourn him."

"But I do have to say, the helpers are getting really tired," she added. "This is exhausting, and so we need there to be a change."

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