The NBA has postponed Saturday’s matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors in Minneapolis following a deadly taking pictures involving federal brokers that has sparked widespread protests throughout town.
In an announcement launched Saturday (Jan. 24), the league mentioned “the decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community” as demonstrations intensified in response to the killing earlier that morning. The sport had been scheduled to happen at Target Center and air nationally on ABC.
League officers mentioned the Timberwolves and Warriors at the moment are rescheduled to play the postponed sport on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET, with the printed moved to NBA TV. The two groups are additionally nonetheless scheduled to face one another once more on Monday evening in downtown Minneapolis.
The taking pictures occurred roughly two miles south of the sector after a confrontation between a person and federal immigration officers. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed {that a} 37-year-old man was killed however initially declined to launch his identification or detailed details about what led as much as the encounter. The man was later recognized by his household as Alex Prettian ICU nurse. Federal officers mentioned the officer who fired the deadly shot is an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security offered further particulars concerning the deadly encounter.
According to a DHS spokesperson, the incident occurred round 9 a.m. native time whereas brokers have been conducting immigration enforcement operations. Officials mentioned the brokers have been approached by a person who was carrying a 9mm handgun and two magazines of ammunition. When brokers tried to disarm him, DHS claimed the person “violently resisted,” main one officer to fireplace what the company described as “defensive shots.”
The demise marked the third taking pictures and second fatality in Minneapolis this month involving a federal agent, escalating tensions within the metropolis. Despite frigid, subzero temperatures, hundreds of protesters marched by way of downtown Minneapolis on Friday, urging an finish to ICE operations within the state.
Saturday morning’s taking pictures triggered one other wave of protests, additional complicating safety situations forward of the sport. For now, the NBA mentioned it would proceed to watch situations in Minneapolis because the scenario develops, with Sunday’s rescheduled sport continuing provided that officers decide it’s secure to take action.