The US citizen shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis was an intensive care nurse at a local veterans' hospital who "wanted to make a difference in this world," family members said.
Alex Pretti, 37, was shot and killed during a scuffle with immigration officials on an icy street, less than three weeks after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed Renée Good, also 37, in her car.
The latest killing sparked fresh protests and rebukes from local officials, who disputed the Trump administration's quick claims that Mr Pretti intended to harm federal agents as he participated in demonstrations against a sweeping immigration crackdown.
Warning: Video contains distressing material and strong language
Mr Pretti was "a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends" and those he cared for at a Minneapolis Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, his parents said in a statement.
"Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact," his parents said.
Dimitri Drekonja, chief of the Infectious Diseases Section at the Minneapolis VA hospital and a colleague of Mr Pretti's, called him "a good kind person who lived to help".
"He had such a great attitude. We'd chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now," Mr Drekonja wrote on the social media platform Bluesky.
He said Mr Pretti was a nurse working "to support critically ill veterans".
Mr Pretti graduated from high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 2006, according to local media reports. He went to nursing school before joining the VA.
Trump administration officials have sought to brand him as a violent aggressor.
Mr Pretti's parents said their son had stepped in front of a federal agent who shoved a woman protester shortly before his death.
They denounced what they called "sickening lies" from the Trump administration and said the gun found on Mr Pretti, which local officials said he was licensed to carry, was not in his hand when he was shot.
"Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs," his parents said in the statement.
"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."
The family asked the public to "get the truth out about our son. He was a good man".
"We are heartbroken but also very angry," they said.
Protests followed shooting
The shooting drew hundreds of protesters to the area to confront the armed and masked agents, who deployed tear gas and flashbang grenades.
Officials with the Department of Homeland Security said a Border Patrol agent fired in defence after Mr Pretti, who they said had a handgun, resisted their attempts to disarm him.
But bystander videos from the scene verified and reviewed by Reuters showed Mr Pretti holding a phone in his hand, not a gun, as he tries to help other protesters who have been pushed to the ground by agents.
The bystander videos show one of the agents apparently deploying pepper spray at Mr Pretti and other protesters.
Watch: Video shows law enforcement agents running towards scene of fatal shooting
Warning: Distressing images and profanity
While Mr Pretti attempts to block the spray and help other protesters, several agents wrestle him to the ground and begin striking him with blows to the head and body.
As they hold Mr Pretti on the ground, one of the agents draws his weapon and multiple shots are fired. Mr Pretti's body can then be seen in the street.
State officials were already at odds with US President Donald Trump's administration over the shooting of another US citizen by federal immigration agents.
Government officials have said an immigration agent was acting in self-defence when he shot Ms Good on 7 January.
They have refused to allow local officials to participate in their investigation of the incident.
Police say man was a lawful gun owner
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters Mr Pretti had attacked agents on an immigration raid, though she did not say whether he pulled out his weapon.
"He wasn't there to peacefully protest. He was there to perpetuate violence," Ms Noem said at a news conference.
Among local leaders who sharply questioned that account was Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
"I've seen the video from several angles and it's sickening," Mr Walz said.
"The federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation - the state will handle it."
The head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Drew Evans, told reporters that federal agents blocked his team's attempts to begin an investigation yesterday.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the man who was killed was a lawful gun owner with no criminal record other than traffic violations.
As people protested the shooting, city police and state troopers arrived to manage the crowd.
The situation appeared to have calmed after federal agents left the area, though protesters remained on the streets for hours afterward.
Local officials pleaded for restraint. "Please do not destroy our city," Mr O'Hara said.
Minneapolis officials, in a statement, said National Guard members would support local police at the scene of the shooting at the request of local officials to the governor.
The nearby Minneapolis Institute of Art said it had closed for the day due to safety concerns, and the National Basketball Association postponed a Minnesota Timberwolves game.
Watch: 'How many more residents need to die for this operation to end?' asks Minneapolis mayor
Mr Walz and other local and state officials called for an immediate end to the Trump administration's local immigration enforcement operations.
"How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?" Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said at a press conference.
Mr Trump accused local elected officials of stirring up opposition.
"The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric," he wrote on social media.
Vice President JD Vance, who visited the city on Thursday, accused local leaders of refusing to provide local police support to immigration agents.
That drew a fierce response from Mr Walz, who said the immigration crackdown has strained local police resources.
The shooting came one day after more than 10,000 people took to the streets in freezing temperatures to protest the crackdown.
Residents had already been angered by several incidents, including the killing of Ms Good, the detention of a US citizen who was taken from his home in his shorts, and the detention of school children, including a five-year-old boy.
