Dave Chappelle Making a quiet but powerful gesture while visiting memorial in Minnesota Alex Pretty and presented a bouquet of flowers to express their respect. The comedian, who is currently on a comedy tour in the Twin Cities, was captured on camera standing quietly and thoughtfully at the memorial site, paying homage to the lives lost in a series of controversial federal immigration enforcement shootings that sparked national outrage. Dave Chappelle’s visit comes as celebrities and public figures continue to speak out about the incident and as political tensions surrounding the investigation grow.
Dave Chappelle visits Alex Pretty Memorial during Minnesota trip
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Dave Chappelle is in the Twin Cities on his comedy tour. In announcing the pop-up event, he said he booked the show to “stand with the community at the center of the event and unite all Americans to defend civil rights, human dignity and the principles we claim to be sacred.”
During his visit, Chappelle brought a bouquet of flowers to Alex Pretty’s memorial and stood quietly there, appearing thoughtful as he paid his respects.
Social media reacts enthusiastically after Chappell’s memorial service
Chappelle’s silent tribute sparked a wave of reactions online, with some praising the gesture and others questioning his motives and broader advocacy.
One user wrote: “Does he respect Charlie? [Kirk]?? [eye roll emoji],” while another appeared supportive, adding, “Have to make sure he takes photos from all angles. “
Another user posted: “I guess his agent told him he had to do this. Did Dave do something similar for Irina Zaruzka or Laken Riley? I guess some victims were more equal than others.” While someone else asked: “Has he publicly visited Laken Riley’s memorial?”
Alex Pretty’s death draws national attention
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Preti was shot and killed by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer on January 24 during the Trump administration’s stepped-up immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Just two weeks before he was killed, an immigration officer was shot to death Renee Nicole Goode 10 days after the shooting of Julio C. Sosa-Sellis.
The series of shootings has sparked outrage and calls for accountability from activists, politicians and community leaders.
Celebrities open up about Minneapolis shootings
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Dave Chappelle is not the only public figure to pay tribute or speak out about the incident.
olivia rodrigo She shared a post on Instagram Stories saying “there is a murderous federal agency terrorizing an American city.” The singer also wrote, “ICE’s actions are unconscionable, but we are not powerless. Our actions matter. I stand with Minnesota.”
on Instagram, Jamie Lee Curtis Sharing the artwork paying tribute to Pretty and Goode, writing, “These are Americans! Shot by our government!” The Halloween star also posted a video of Pretty’s shooting as an Instagram Story, with the text: “There are so many things that need to be amplified right now that I can’t stay silent.”
Pedro Pascal Shared many critical posts ice and federal officials’ accounts of the shooting on Instagram Stories, including a report from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani who said ICE “terrorizes our city” and should be abolished.
Tensions rise over investigation after FBI rejects
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On Monday, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the state’s criminal investigative law enforcement agency, said it had been formally notified by the FBI that it would not share any information or evidence related to Pretty’s shooting.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is demanding an “impartial” investigation into the Minneapolis shooting. “Trump’s left hand cannot investigate his right hand,” he said Monday in response to the FBI’s refusal to share evidence. “The families of the deceased deserve better.”
The agency also previously declined to share any information related to the shootings of Goode or Sosa-Sellis, and the BCA closed its investigation into Goode’s killing due to a lack of cooperation. “As we have said before, adequate access to evidence, witnesses and information is necessary to meet the investigative standards required by Minnesota law and the public; we cannot do this without it,” the BCA said in January after the FBI excluded it from the investigation.