Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters, Saturday, in Washington, D.C. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"An individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun," and agents attempted to disarm him. "The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently," Noem said. "Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots."
Medics attempted to render aid, Noem said, but the man, later identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, "was pronounced dead at the scene."
She also claimed that the Pretti had "two magazines with ammunition in them that held dozens of rounds" and no identification.
"This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement," Noem said.
Noem claimed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has "encouraged residents and citizens and violent rioters to resist." (Reuters/Tim Evans)
She also accused Walz of undermining federal officers. "I’ll remind you that Governor Walz, today in his press conference, said that our officers were not even law enforcement, which is a lie," Noem said. "He’s called them the Gestapo."
Noem further claimed Walz "encouraged residents and citizens and violent rioters to resist," and alleged that state leaders had doxed federal officers, "putting themselves and their families’ lives in jeopardy."
During the briefing, Noem was asked whether Trump was closer to invoking the Insurrection Act in response to the unrest. She did not rule it out.
"The president will use every tool that he needs to follow through on his promises to the American people," Noem said.
She added that the Trump administration would continue operating in Minneapolis despite objections from state and local leaders.
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"We’re going to treat Minneapolis exactly the way that we have treated every other city across this country," Noem said, referring to immigration enforcement operations like Operation Metro Surge underway nationwide.
Noem said DHS is investigating the shooting "just like we do all other officer-involved shootings," and that additional details would be released as the investigation continues.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment in response to Noem's remarks.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/noem-says-minneapolis-suspect-committed-domestic-terrorism-accuses-walz-frey-inciting-violence