Twin Cities musician Nur-D was detained by federal agents in south Minneapolis on Saturday. The beloved rapper, whose real name is Matt Allen, was standing with other observers at the location where 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed near Nicollet Avenue South and East 26th Street.

For more live updates, follow MPR News’ reporting on ICE’s operation in Minnesota.

Video footage published by Status Coup News shows Allen walking away from the area after agents released tear gas. In the video, several agents are seen running up to him and wrestling him to the ground.

"I have done nothing at all, my name is Matthew James Obadiah Allen, I am a United States citizen," he yells in the footage. He is then sprayed in the face with a chemical agent.

Warning: Be advised, the video below contains graphic content.

The Minnesota Star Tribune’s photographers were at the scene and obtained photos of the detainment, and it was noted on the paper’s live blog that he was “eventually placed in the back of a pickup truck by agents and taken away.” According to reports from friends, Nur-D was later taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

He released a statement later that day confirming he was released and safe: “I am currently safe. My wife is currently safe. I will share more details soon.”

Nur-D has performed at numerous events for The Current, and visited Minnesota Public Radio in the summer of 2025 to discuss and perform songs from his 10th full-length album, Chunkadelic. “Being unapologetically happy about what you're doing is one of the biggest forms of resistance,” he says in the interview with MPR’s Jacob Aloi. “I personally feel comedy — and laughter and joy — cuts through the fear that often is used to keep people in particular spaces. If you're laughing, if you're enjoying yourself, if you're poking fun, it requires a lot more work from the opposition to stop you.”