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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke Sunday about the Border Patrol-involved shooting in Minneapolis that led to the postponement of their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The incident took place on Saturday and left one man dead – who was later identified as Alex J. Pretti. He was shot and killed after he allegedly confronted officers during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation in the south side of the city. It was the second shooting involving federal officers in the month of January.
Kerr took issue with the media for how they covered the fatal shooting.
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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)
“My concern as an American, we’re not perfect,” he said when asked about a “path forward” in the United States. “We’ve never been perfect. But I think our ideals have been in the right place for a long time, our values. And I think no matter which side of the aisle you’re on, I think remembering the values that come with the Constitution, that come with citizenship, the values of looking for the right thing now, are so important that we can feel the right thing from now on. about the place. People are so angry.
“There should be an appeal to our better angels to look out for each other and to recognize what is happening. We are being divided by media for profit, by misinformation. There is so much out there that is really hard for all of us to reconcile. In times like these you have to lean on values and who you are and who you want to be – either as an individual or as a country. And I think that’s the biggest thing.
“And that’s what’s so sad about all of this. It’s like we’re at each other’s throats right now. And you can’t just say, ‘I’m right, the other person is wrong.’ Not in this current climate of constant news flooding us. ‘News.’ It is difficult to decipher what is real and what is not. What is true and what is not true. People arguing about the exact same video saying, ‘This happened. No, it happened.’ It’s a confusing time to be alive and to be an American. So what I would appeal to everyone is to remember what our Constitution stands for, what our values are and what that means for how we treat each other and our fellow citizens.”
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A federal agent fires a round of ammunition at protesters near the site where Alex Pretti was fatally shot in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 24, 2026. (Tim Evans/Reuters)
Kerr also praised the residents of Minneapolis when he spoke to the media before the Warriors took on the T’Wolves in the rescheduled game.
“I’ve been following everything. It’s very sad,” Kerr said. “This has always been a great stop on the NBA tour. I love the city of Minneapolis. The people here are wonderful and it’s very sad what’s happening. I feel for the city. There’s been a stiffness thrown over the city. You can feel it. A lot of people are suffering.
“Obviously, loss of life is the biggest concern. Those families will never get their family members back. When all the unrest subsides, whenever that is, those family members will not be coming home, and that’s devastating.”
Kerr said he had conversations with T’Wolves head coach Chris Finch about postponing the game and he agreed it should have been done.
“General feeling is just a sense of sadness for Minneapolis, for the city. It had been through a lot,” Kerr continued. “We empathize with the citizens here, with the Wolves franchise and their fans. It’s a wonderful place. Like I said, I’ve always felt a good vibe here. The term ‘Minnesota nice’ is a real thing. People here really, really care about each other. Look out for your neighbors and go out of your way to help each other.
“It’s a beautiful city and it’s just hard to see everybody really going through a lot of angst and anger and sadness and grief.”
The shooting came a few weeks after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good. DHS said Good was shot in self-defense after she used her SUV in a manner that posed a threat. DHS said the video showed Good interfering with ICE officers by parking her vehicle in the roadway in an apparent attempt to block federal vehicles.
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Kerr called Good’s death a “murder.”
