Loyola students expressed frustration over the killing of Alex Pretti, the second killing in Minneapolis at the hands of federal agents during “Operation Metro Surge.”

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem justified the killing, implying that Pretti was armed when he was shot.

“The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently,” Noem said. “Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots.”

Freshman psychology major Ryan Sanderson called Noem’s remarks “disgusting.”

“The only way I can describe it is completely disgusting,” Sanderson said. “I’d be scared for my life, too, if unidentified masked men just showed up and tried taking me away.”

Sophomore biology major Christian Nosacka also rejected Noem’s remarks about the shooting.

“That sounds ridiculous to me,” Nosacka said.

Videos recorded by witnesses show that Pretti, who was carrying the gun legally, had been disarmed by the time the first shot was fired.

The shooting prompted calls for an independent investigation into the shooting, with even a growing number of Republicans pressing for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics in Minnesota.

“I absolutely do think an investigation should be done,” Sanderson said. “But… I think it’s gonna wind up being swept under the rug.”

Similar to the aftermath of Renee Nicole Good’s killing, multiple high-ranking members of the Trump administration called Pretti a domestic terrorist.

When asked if she agrees with this characterization of Pretti, Noem said, “When you perpetuate violence against a government because of ideological reasons and for reasons to resist and to perpetuate violence; that is the definition of domestic terrorism.”

Nosacka refuted Noem’s claim.

“I think that is an entirely incorrect claim,” Nosacka said. “He was not a domestic terrorist. He was a man with a legal license to carry who was disarmed before the shot.”

Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called Pretti “a domestic terrorist [who] tried to assassinate law enforcement.”

Sanderson believes Stephen Miller’s comments were “hypocritical.”

“I think it’s hypocritical,” Sanderson said. “How are you going to say that when you’re taking people off the streets and taking them away from their families?”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.