...who shot the man in Minneapolis (more at one of many sources) had probable cause or at least a reasonable suspicion to believe that the man, Alex J. Pettri, whom he shot, was posing a threat of imminent serious bodily harm or death to the law enforcement officers. I find it questionable in an objective manner. Why do I find it questionable:
First I must say, I think, there was plenty of evidence that the man was resisting arrest. Secondly, he seemingly attacked the officers or at least attempted to assist another person whom the LE officers were either trying to arrest or otherwise subdue. That seems very obvious from all of the videos I have seen of the event. Third, he allegedly was armed with a semi-automatic pistol. He reportedly was within his rights to do so but in my estimation was extremely foolish to have carried the pistol to an anti-ICE demonstration and then to get physically involved, evidently in a violent manner, in the way in which he did involve himself in a law enforcement operation. Fourth, the officer who fired the shots, evidently told his superiors that he feared for his life or limb or for that of the other LE officers present. I would guess, and as I just said this is a guess, that he thought the guy was going for his own pistol or if he had been disarmed as I have read elsewhere, then maybe he reached for one of the officer's guns or some other weapon. I can only guess because it could not be seen in any video that I have watched nor has the government released a statement from the BPA. Let me repeat something, I did not see a weapon in Mr. Pettri's hand(s) nor did I see him reach for an officer's weapon. That does not mean that he did not do so, it merely means I could not tell from watching a few videos if he did so. Fifth, no one from the government, like the chief Border Patrol Agent Bovino nor DHS Secretary Noem said that Mr. Pettri drew his weapon, attempted to draw his firearm or tried to snatch away an officer's weapon. Had he done so, it would have behooved government officials to come right out and say so but they did not and I must wonder - why not! Instead, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino stated that because Mr. Pettri had a pistol and two loaded magazines it seemed to him that Mr. Pettri had gone to the demonstration to do maximum carnage to federal agents. DHS Secretary Noem essentially said the same thing later on. Now, I have to shake my head in disbelief that even one of them said that with little to no evidence to back that up. Let's face it, if such had been the case, why did Mr. Pettri not just draw and start firing at the officers and agents when he first saw them pushing down the other person with whom they had interacted? Yes, it could have been the case, that Mr. Pettri was armed and had planned a premeditated deadly attack on the agents but I for one would certainly like to see proof of that instead of hearing what may well have been the biggest line of bullshit I have heard in years. I am not saying it definitely was bullshit, it actually could have been the case, but what is that claim based upon. The fact is Mr. Pettri, did not start shooting anyone. That is not to say that he did not pose an imminent threat of serious bodily harm or death to the officers and agents at the time he was shot. It is me just saying that is something that needs evidence, evidence other than that of him carrying a weapon that he was legally allowed to carry even if he foolishly carried it to such a protest. Sixth, where are the body camera videos of the altercation? Were the agents & officers not wearing body cameras, not even one of them? Seventh, what statements about the shooting were made by the BPA who fired the shots? Eighth, what statements were made by the other LE officers & agents who were involved? The list goes on and on of questions that need answers and evidence to back up the answers. What is not needed are statements from government officials saying that Mr. Pettri went to the demonstration looking to create havoc & carnage by shooting government officials, at least not without much more evidence to back up statements like that because it makes it appear as if the government maybe is covering for an unlawful shooting. Same goes for calling Mr.Pettri a homegrown terrorist as DHS Secretary Noem did in sum and substance.
Now do not get me wrong, both the governor of MN and the mayor of Minneapolis almost immediately condemned the shooting in essence indicating the BPA who fired the shots is guilty of an unlawful shooting as in a murder. Where is the evidence of that! They essentially indicated that Mr. Pettri did absolutely nothing wrong even in the face of video evidence showing he apparently impeded the federal agents & officers from carrying out their lawful duties. The videos showed the officers using less than lethal force in trying to subdue Mr. Pettri. Only after multiple attempts to subdue him were shots fired. If the officer was a murderer why did he wait so long to shoot - do you think maybe he had good reason (probable cause) for the agent to think there was an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death to himself or other officials?
I don't have the answers but someone in the federal government had better come forth with the answers post haste, and those in state and local government should keep their hateful mouths shut until they have actual evidence to back up what they are saying. Otherwise, there is going to be more and more violence aimed at the agents & officers who are attempting to carry out their duties in rounding up, arresting illegal aliens (not immigrants), with the ultimate goal of deporting or imprisoning them. As it stands right now, this is one of the biggest cluster fuck I have seen in years.
All the best,
Glenn B
