The top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, Bill Esseri, reaffirmed his complete backing for immigration officials in light of the recent shooting of Alex Preti, an anti-ICE protester, in Minneapolis.
“If you approach law enforcement with a firearm, you’re putting yourself in serious danger,” Esseri cautioned in a post several hours after ICE agents fatally shot Preti, who was reported to be armed.
Preti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse involved in the local anti-ICE protests, was reportedly carrying a loaded Sig Sauer P320 9mm handgun along with two magazines when she was killed, allegedly while trying to intervene during an arrest on the street.
Authorities indicated that Preti was legally permitted to carry the weapon.
Rob Doerr, representing the Minnesota Gun Owners Association, suggested that the firearm may have accidentally fired after an agent grabbed it, leading to another agent discharging the weapon.
Esseri’s backing of the shooting, which led to widespread protests in Minneapolis over the weekend, drew ire from an unexpected ally—the NRA. They insisted that Preti’s right to carry was justified.
“Remarks like those from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California are both dangerous and misguided,” the NRA asserted in a statement.
They further expressed that the opinions of responsible individuals should await a full investigation rather than being generalized as negative towards law-abiding citizens.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also weighed in with his own remarks on social media in response to critiques from Second Amendment supporters.
“It’s surprising to see the NRA question the comments of a federal prosecutor defending law enforcement actions,” he remarked.
The Gun Owners of America joined the NRA in calling out Esseri’s statements, emphasizing, “The Second Amendment safeguards Americans’ right to bear arms at protests, a right the federal government cannot violate.”
In response, Esseri accused critics of misinterpreting his comments.
“I never claimed it was lawful to shoot at law-abiding citizens,” he clarified in a follow-up post. “What I meant was that those provoking law enforcement while armed pose a legitimate threat.”
His advice remained consistent: “If your safety is a priority, don’t approach law enforcement while carrying a weapon. If officers see a threat and you don’t disarm immediately, they’re legally within their rights to use lethal force.”
This incident occurred shortly after another ICE related shooting where 37-year-old anti-ICE protester Renee Good was killed while trying to escape arrest.
