‘Tragic’: N.H. Governor Ayotte calls for investigation into ICE’s fatal shooting of protester – The Boston Globe

CONCORD, N.H. — Several days after a second US citizen was shot and killed by ICE in Minnesota, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte said she supports a “thorough investigation” into the shooting.

Ayotte stopped short of calling for a pause on federal ICE operations in Minnesota and Maine.

“Any loss of life is tragic, and I think we can all agree on that,” Ayotte said at a press event on Wednesday.

“It’s my hope that there will be a thorough investigation conducted and that there will be transparency around the results of that investigation,” she said.

Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal immigration agents on a Minneapolis street last weekend while attending a protest. Pretti, who had no criminal record, was a registered nurse with the firearms permit required to carry a gun.

In the wake of his shooting, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Pretti of domestic terrorism without citing evidence. White House chief of staff Stephen Miller called Pretti a “would-be assassin.” President Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt have distanced themselves from those statements.

Ayotte did not answer a question about whether she was troubled by comments from the Trump administration about the victim of the shooting.

“People seem to be wanting to make conclusions from the sidelines, and from my perspective, whatever your view of it, it’s very important that we get all the facts and circumstances,” she said. “That’s what an investigation is for, and so I hope that is conducted.”

In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins called for a complete pause on ICE activity in both Minnesota and Maine in light of the second fatal shooting.

“I want a complete pause in Maine so that the operation can be much more targeted on individuals who are here criminally, who are here unlawfully and have criminal records,” said Collins.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott, also a Republican, also said that ICE activity should be paused in the aftermath of the second killing.

“The President should pause these operations, de-escalate the situation, and reset the federal government’s focus on truly criminal illegal immigrants,” he said in a statement.

“It’s not acceptable for American citizens to be killed by federal agents for exercising their God-given and constitutional rights to protest their government,” he said.

Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. Follow her @amanda_gokee.