Witness Shares Trauma from Deadly ICE Encounter as Lawsuit Looms

Fri Mar 27 2026 01:53:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A woman recounts her harrowing experience witnessing the fatal shooting of a protester by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, as legal actions arise against alleged excessive use of force during enforcement operations.

Georgia Savageford, a Minneapolis woman, spoke at a press conference about her traumatic encounter with federal immigration officers who shot Alex Pretti while she was observing their actions. Her testimony adds to a growing chorus of community voices urging accountability from law enforcement as Minnesota officials file a lawsuit against the Trump administration for access to evidence in light of these incidents. Leaders and civil rights attorneys advocate for potential class-action lawsuits against the excessive force exhibited during these enforcement actions.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Georgia Savageford, a Minneapolis woman, shared her traumatic experience witnessing the tragic shooting of protester Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers during a recent press conference. Savageford, who was legally observing the enforcement actions, described her ordeal, which has left her feeling haunted and changed forever.

That day has changed me forever, she expressed, detailing how the moment she saw Pretti shot by the officers had instilled lasting trauma. The trauma will haunt me for the rest of my life, and I will never be the same. Savageford had participated in observing such actions since the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer earlier that month.

During the event, Savageford recounted how she was forcefully tackled by multiple agents, suffering physical injuries that resulted in temporary nerve damage. The tense encounter escalated when she witnessed Pretti shot while in the back of an officer's vehicle, leaving her feeling desperate for safety as she pleaded for the agents to cease their actions.

This incident brings into focus ongoing concerns about the treatment of community members during intense ICE enforcement operations, especially highlighted by a recent lawsuit filed by Minnesota officials against the Trump administration to obtain necessary evidence for investigations into these tragic events.

In the wake of Savageford's testimony, civil rights attorney John Burris announced potential class-action lawsuits against the enforcement policies, representing Savageford and others affected by alleged excessive force. Burris emphasized that these legal actions aim to put the authorities on notice while providing a path for accountability in these troubling cases.