Shocking Sequence Captured on Video (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Minneapolis – Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, during an immigration enforcement operation, drawing sharp bipartisan condemnation and demands for a full investigation into the Trump administration’s handling of the incident.[1][2]
Shocking Sequence Captured on Video
Videos from bystanders depicted a chaotic scene near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood on January 24, 2026.[3] Federal agents pursued a suspect into a nearby donut shop when Pretti, standing across the street, began filming the encounter with his phone while helping direct traffic.
An agent shoved a woman protester to the ground and deployed pepper spray. Pretti intervened to shield her, raising one hand empty while holding his phone in the other. Agents then tackled him, pepper-sprayed him, and pinned him down, with one removing a holstered handgun from his waistband.[1] Moments later, at least 10 shots rang out over five seconds as he lay motionless, striking him in the back, chest, and possibly neck.[3]
Pretti, a U.S. citizen and VA hospital employee with no criminal record, possessed a valid Minnesota permit to carry the firearm legally.[2]
Official Narrative Clashes with Footage
Department of Homeland Security officials initially described Pretti as approaching agents with a drawn 9mm handgun, violently resisting disarmament, and posing an imminent threat as a would-be mass shooter.[4] Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino labeled him intent on maximum damage to law enforcement, while the agency released a photo of the recovered gun and two magazines.[2]
However, frame-by-frame analyses of bystander and body-camera footage contradicted these assertions. Pretti never brandished the weapon; agents discovered it only after subduing him. His family decried the accounts as sickening lies, noting he protected a woman from pepper spray with an empty raised hand.[1]
DHS later confirmed body-worn cameras recorded the event, though footage release remained pending as of January 27.[1]
Republicans Break Ranks in Rare Rebuke
Several prominent Republicans voiced concerns, amplifying pressure on the administration. Senators Thom Tillis, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Pete Ricketts urged thorough, impartial probes, with Collins questioning if excessive force occurred in a diffusible situation.[5]
House leaders like Andrew Garbarino and Michael McCaul demanded congressional testimony from immigration officials. Even gun rights advocates, including the NRA, criticized early victim-blaming narratives.[5] This marked the third federal shooting in Minneapolis within weeks amid Operation Metro Surge, fueling GOP unease over tactics and transparency.[1]
- Sen. Murkowski: ICE agents lack carte blanche.
- Gov. Kevin Stitt: A real tragedy warranting review.
- Sen. Rand Paul: Called for ICE leader hearings.
- Rep. James Comer: Pushed for full investigation.
Protests Erupt Amid Ongoing Probes
Immediate demonstrations blocked streets in Minneapolis, prompting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to activate the National Guard. Protests spread to major cities nationwide, with vigils honoring Pretti and a GoFundMe surpassing $1 million for his family.[1]
Investigations proceeded under DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations, with FBI forensics support. Hennepin County secured a restraining order to preserve evidence after federal denial of a search warrant. Bovino departed his post, replaced by border czar Tom Homan, as President Trump pledged a review.[4]
Key Takeaways
- Videos reveal Pretti held a phone, not a gun, when agents engaged him.
- Bipartisan lawmakers demand joint federal-state scrutiny and hearings.
- The incident highlights tensions in federal immigration operations in U.S. cities.
The clash between video evidence and official statements underscores eroding public trust in federal operations, leaving lawmakers pressing for accountability. What do you think about the push for investigation? Tell us in the comments.
