An atmosphere of grief and tension in Minneapolis spilled directly into the sports world on Saturday, forcing the suspension of an NBA game after a fatal shooting between federal agents and a local resident.
The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ scheduled matchup against the Golden State Warriors was officially canceled following the shooting death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, a Minnesota resident identified by local media.
Minneapolis protesters clash with ICE agents after the killing of an unarmed man
The killing marked the second fatal shooting involving federal agents in the city within a week, and the third such incident in roughly a month.
It also unfolded against the backdrop of sustained protests emanating from the January 7 death of Renee Good, an incident that has already heightened scrutiny of federal law enforcement activity in Minneapolis.
According to authorities, the shooting occurred shortly after 09:00 near Glam Doll Donuts at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue. Video footage circulated online appears to show multiple federal agents wrestling Pretti to the ground before one agent fires several shots into his chest, after which the agents disperse.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara urged demonstrators who gathered at the scene to remain peaceful.
“Please do not destroy our own city,” he said during a press conference. As Minneapolis continues to grapple with anger, fear, and unanswered questions, the suspension of professional sports has become a stark symbol of a community in crisis.
When will Timberwolves-Warriors be replayed?
Hours after the incident, a statement the Timberwolves said “the decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community” to cancel the game.
It had been originally scheduled to air nationally on ABC and has now been rescheduled for Sunday afternoon.
As of Saturday evening, uncertainty also surrounded another major sporting event in the region. The Minnesota Wild are scheduled to host the Florida Panthers in NHL action in nearby Saint Paul.
The Panthers, the reigning Stanley Cup champions, recently visited Donald Trump at the White House to commemorate their title, adding another layer of national attention to the situation.
At the time of writing, there has been no announcement to suggest that the game will also be postponed.
NBA figures have their say on killings
The gravity of the moment was evident during the NBA broadcast.
When veteran host Ernie Johnson informed viewers that the Timberwolves–Warriors game would not be played, longtime analyst Charles Barkley delivered an emotional appeal for calm and accountability.
“It’s sad, it’s scary… it’s going to end bad,” Barkley said. “It has already ended badly twice. And somebody’s gotta step up and be adults because man, two people have died for no reason, and it’s just sad.”
The Warriors‘ head coach, Steve Kerr, has been a prominent and outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and federal policies for years.
After the death of Good, Kerr publicly condemned the federal agents involved, describing their actions as “shameful” and accusing the government of misrepresenting what occurred.
“It’s shameful, really, that in our country, we can have law enforcement officers commit murder and seemingly get away with it,” Kerr said.
“It’s shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there’s video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government’s saying.” Saturday’s incident is expected to intensify those sentiments across the city.
