Dave Chappelle’s Somber Alex Pretti Memorial Visit Leaves Fans Talking

Dave Chappelle made a quiet but powerful gesture while in Minnesota, visiting the memorial of Alex Pretti and paying his respects with a bouquet. The comedian, who is currently in the Twin Cities for his comedy tour, was caught on camera standing silently at the memorial site, appearing deep in thought as he honored the life lost amid a series of controversial federal immigration enforcement shootings that have sparked national outrage. Dave Chappelle’s visit comes as celebrities and public figures continue speaking out about the incident and as political tensions surrounding the investigation intensify.

Dave Chappelle is in the Twin Cities for his comedy tour. At the time of announcing the pop-up, he said he booked the show "to stand with a community at the center of events that should unite all Americans in defense of civil rights, human dignity, and principles we claim to hold sacred."

During his visit, Chappelle brought a bouquet to Alex Pretti’s memorial and stood there quietly, appearing reflective as he paid tribute.

Chappelle’s quiet tribute sparked a wave of reactions online, with some praising the gesture while others questioned his motivations and broader advocacy.

One user wrote, “Did he honor Charlie [Kirk]?? [eye roll emoji],” while another appeared supportive, adding, “had to make sure he got photos from all angles."

“I guess his agent told he him had to do it. Did Dave perform a similar gesture for Iryna Zarutska or Laken Riley? I suppose some victims are more equal than others,” another user posted, while someone else asked, “Has he publicly visited Laken Riley’s memorial?”

Pretti was shot on 24 January by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials in Minneapolis during the Trump administration’s surge of immigration enforcement operations in the city. His killing came just two weeks after an immigration official shot and killed Renee Nicole Good and 10 days after the shooting of Julio C Sosa-Celis.

The string of shootings has fueled outrage and calls for accountability from activists, politicians, and community leaders.

Dave Chappelle isn’t the only public figure to pay respects or speak out on the incident.

Olivia Rodrigo shared a post on her Instagram Stories that said 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 shared artwork paying tribute to both Pretti and Good, writing, "THESE WERE AMERICANS! SHOT BY OUR GOVERNMENT!" The "Halloween" star also posted video of Pretti's shooting as an Instagram Stories along with the text, "There's too much going on that needs to be amplified right now for me to be quiet."

Pedro Pascal shared numerous posts that were critical of ICE and federal officials' account of the shooting on his Instagram Stories, including one by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said ICE "terrorizes our cities" and should be abolished.

On Monday, Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), a state-level criminal investigative law enforcement agency, said the FBI had formally notified it that it would not share any information or evidence related to Pretti’s shooting.

The Minnesota governor, Tim Walz, has demanded an “impartial” investigation into the shootings in Minneapolis. “Trump’s left hand cannot investigate his right hand,” he said on Monday in response to the FBI’s refusal to share evidence. “The families of the deceased deserve better.”

The agency has also previously refused to share any information related to the shootings of Good or Sosa-Celis, a lack of cooperation that led the BCA to stop its investigation into Good’s killing. “As we’ve previously said, full access to evidence, witnesses, and information is necessary to meet the investigative standard that Minnesota law and the public demands; without it, we cannot do so,” the BCA said back in January, after the FBI boxed it out of the investigation.