Two GOP senators have joined the NRA’s call for an investigation into Alex Pretti’s death after the gun rights group criticized Trump officials’ comments on the fatal shooting

Republican lawmakers and gun advocacy groups typically aligned with Donald Trump appear to be becoming increasingly divided over the administration’s response to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal immigration agent.

Two GOP senators have joined a growing group of Republicans calling for a “transparent” investigation into Pretti’s death as experts claim videos of the incident undermine federal authorities’ claims about the 37-year-old intensive care nurse. Pretti, who worked at a VA hospital treating veterans, was fatally shot by a US Border Patrol agent while protesting Trump’s hard-line immigration crackdown in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Trump administration officials have repeatedly justified the fatal shooting by claiming that Pretti, who was licensed to carry a gun, was armed during the incident.

READ MORE: Alex Pretti’s student pens heartbreaking letter sharing his heartbreaking last wordsREAD MORE: New angle shows federal agent clapping after Alex Pretti killing at ICE protest

Among them is Bill Essayli – who was appointed by Trump to temporarily serve as a US attorney in California in 2025. He wrote on social media: “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.”

Essayli commentes ignited a response from The National Rifle Association (NRA) and other gun advocacy groups. “This sentiment … is dangerous and wrong. Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens,” the NRA posted.

California governor Gavin Newsom’s press office highlighted the NRA’s response, writing on X: “Wow. Even the NRA thinks Trump’s [justice department] stooge in California has gone too far for claiming federal agents were ‘legally justified’ to kill Alex Pretti.”

Gun Owners of America, a non-profit lobbying organization, also criticized Essayli’s remarks. “Federal agents are not ‘highly likely’ to be ‘legally justified’ in ‘shooting’ concealed carry licensees who approach while lawfully carrying a firearm,” the group posted. It noted that the US constitution’s second amendment “protects Americans’ right to bear arms while protesting – a right the federal government must not infringe upon.”

On Sunday, Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick expressed his support for the NRA’s call for a “full investigation” into the shooting. “As I have often said, I support the Border Patrol, ICE, and the critical work they do to enforce our laws. Irresponsible rhetoric and a lack of cooperation from Minnesota’s politicians are fueling a dangerous situation,” the GOP senator wrote on X.

“I also agree with the NRA and others — we need a full investigation into the tragedy in Minneapolis. We need all the facts,” he added. McCormick noted that laws must be enforced in a way that “protects the public while maintaining its trust.”

Just hours earlier, Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts described the shooting as a “horrifying situation” as he declared that he expects “a prioritized, transparent investigation into this incident.”

“The nation witnessed a horrifying situation this weekend. My prayers are with the family of Alex Pretti,” he wrote on X. The Republican senator noted that we must “maintain our core values as a nation, including the right to protest and assemble.”

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, federal authorities claimed that Pretti “approached” a group of lawmen with a firearm and that a Border Patrol officer opened fire “defensively.”

During a news conference on Saturday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti “arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.” Border Patrol senior official Greg Bovino claimed that the nurse intended to “massacre law enforcement.”

Deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller described Pretti as “a would-be assassin.” But use-of-force experts told The Associated Press that bystander videos undermined those claims, saying there has been no evidence made public to support them.

“It’s very baked into the culture of American policing to not criticize other law enforcement agencies,” said Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and use-of-force expert who testified for prosecutors in the trial of the Minneapolis officer convicted of murdering George Floyd.

“But behind the scenes, there is nothing but professional scorn for the way that DHS is handling the aftermath of these incidents,” Stoughton said.

“In a country that has more guns than people, the mere possession of a weapon does not establish an imminent threat to officers — and neither does having a weapon and approaching officers,” Stoughton noted. “I don’t think there’s any evidence to confirm the official narrative at all. It’s not unlawful for someone to carry a weapon in Minnesota.”