Newly reviewed video footage is raising serious questions about the death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen who was shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement action on January 24 in south Minneapolis.
The shooting of Alex Pretti has shaken the entire United States and has sparked massive protests in Minneapolis and in several other cities across the country. Pretti is the second Minneapolis resident to be killed by federal agents this month.
Reporters from the Minnesota Star Tribune reached members of Pretti’s immediate family as news of the shooting was still unfolding.
His sister struggled to speak through tears before ending the call.
In a statement shared with CNN on Saturday night, Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, described their son as a devoted caregiver and compassionate person.
“Kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse.”
They added:
“Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact.”
Federal officials initially stated that agents fired their weapons after encountering an armed individual who posed a threat during the operation.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol agents were assisting with enforcement efforts when they came across Pretti.
“During the encounter, the individual produced a firearm and resisted officers’ attempts to gain control of it,” DHS said.
“An agent fired defensive shots, fearing for the safety of the officers on scene.”
However, that account is now being closely examined following the release of multiple videos captured by bystanders and officers.
Footage appears to show Pretti holding a cellphone and recording agents as they approached him.
No firearm is clearly visible in his hands prior to the shooting. During a brief struggle, one officer can be seen reaching toward Pretti’s waist area and pulling away with an object that appears consistent with a handgun. Gunshots follow almost immediately.
Attention has since shifted to audio captured after Pretti had already been shot and was on the ground.
While difficult to make out at first, the audio becomes clearer when isolated and slowed. One officer is heard asking a short question, followed by another officer responding that he has the item being referenced. The words — “where’s the gun?” — have become central to questions about whether the firearm was secured before or after lethal force was used.
Federal authorities have confirmed that all available video and audio evidence is under review as part of an internal investigation. No agent involved has been publicly identified as having fired the fatal shots.
Pretti’s family has strongly challenged the government’s version of events.
In a public statement, they said claims that he posed an immediate danger were “false” and “contradicted by video evidence.”
“Our son was not threatening anyone,” the family said. “He was holding his phone and filming. The video shows this clearly.”
They have called for a full and transparent investigation and are demanding the release of all body-worn camera footage and communications related to the operation.
DHS has said it stands by its initial account while the review continues.
“These incidents are taken seriously,” the department said in a follow-up statement.
“Any use of force by federal officers is subject to review.”
The shooting has drawn heightened attention due to its proximity to the earlier fatal incident involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis this month, placing enforcement operations in the city under intense public and media scrutiny.
On January 7, another 37-year-old resident, Renee Good, was also shot dead during a separate encounter. Together, the two incidents have fueled growing tension between federal officials, who argue agents were carrying out their duties, and local leaders who say the expanded federal presence has contributed to fear, violence, and instability.
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