Charles Barkley used his national platform this week to address two fatal law-enforcement shootings in Minnesota, calling the situation “scary” and urging leaders to show accountability as tensions continue to rise.
Speaking during ESPN’s Inside the NBA, the Basketball Hall of Famer reacted to two separate incidents that occurred within weeks of each other and resulted in the deaths of civilians during federal operations. Barkley did not focus on policy specifics, but instead framed his comments around the human cost of the violence and the need for restraint.
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“Going back to, I think her name was Renee Good, and today, man, it’s just sad,” Barkley said during the broadcast. “It’s scary. … It’s gonna end bad. It’s already ended badly twice. Somebody’s gotta step up and be adults.”
The most recent incident took place Saturday in Minneapolis, where a man identified as Alex J. Pretti was shot and killed during a Department of Homeland Security operation involving Border Patrol agents. Authorities said Pretti allegedly confronted officers in the city’s southern area before the shooting occurred. DHS has not released additional details beyond confirming the fatal encounter.
That death followed an earlier shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this month. In that case, ICE officers shot and killed Renee Nicole Good.
Barkley referenced both incidents while expressing frustration over the outcome, emphasizing that lives were lost in situations that escalated quickly.
“Two people have died for no reason, and it’s just sad,” Barkley said.
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The fallout from the shootings extended into the sports world as well. A scheduled NBA game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors was postponed in the aftermath of the violence.