Minneapolis Grapples with Future of Streetside Memorials for Victims of Federal Shootings

City must decide how to manage makeshift memorial sites for two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents last month.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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As the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota winds down, Minneapolis will need to decide how to manage makeshift memorial sites for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents last month. Piles of flowers, signs and artwork have swiftly formed to commemorate their lives at the locations where they were fatally shot. The memorials have become community gathering spaces, echoing the memorial to George Floyd, which took the city over five years to officially memorialize.

Why it matters

The memorials for Good and Pretti represent the community's grief and solidarity in the wake of these high-profile killings by federal agents. However, the city now faces the challenge of determining the future of these makeshift memorial sites, balancing the need for public grieving spaces with practical concerns around traffic and safety.

The details

Memorials for Renee Good and Alex Pretti sprang up within hours of their killings on January 7 and January 24, respectively. The Good memorial is on a residential street, with orange traffic cones creating a walkway for visitors. The Pretti memorial, located in a commercial district, has temporarily shifted traffic lanes and closed off parking to protect those gathering there. The city says it is 'actively working on next steps, including continued community engagement' regarding the future of both memorials.

  • Renee Good was killed on January 7, 2026.
  • Alex Pretti was killed on January 24, 2026.

The players

Renee Good

A U.S. citizen killed by federal agents in Minneapolis last month.

Alex Pretti

A U.S. citizen killed by federal agents in Minneapolis last month.

George Floyd

A man murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis in 2020, whose memorial site took the city over five years to officially establish.

Jacob Frey

The mayor of Minneapolis.

Jess Olstad

A spokesperson for the city of Minneapolis.

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What they’re saying

“This is so unfair, the trauma, for everyone, is too much. We're all in this together. And I'm really glad they have this here so everybody can come and be together.”

— Karel Hoffmann, Minnesota resident (wbal.com)

“I printed both of their pictures and put those on there again, just to signify the love that we have for both of them, really, and their contributions to the community and supporting their neighbors.”

— Lynn Elrod, Nurse (wbal.com)

What’s next

The city of Minneapolis is 'actively working on next steps, including continued community engagement' regarding the future of the memorials for Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

The takeaway

The makeshift memorials for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents, have become powerful symbols of community grief and solidarity in Minneapolis. However, the city now faces the challenge of determining the long-term future of these memorial sites, balancing the need for public grieving spaces with practical concerns around traffic and safety.