The recent fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, has sparked intense controversy, protests, and accusations that the Trump administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) misrepresented key details of the incident.
Incident Overview Federal agents, including Border Patrol officers under ICE/DHS, were conducting a targeted immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis when they encountered Pretti. DHS initially stated that Pretti “approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun” and was “an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” framing the shooting as self-defense against an armed threat.
Emerging Video Evidence Multiple bystander videos, including one from a passerby and others from different angles, have surfaced and been analyzed by outlets like The New York Times, CNN, BBC, and The Guardian. These appear to show:
- Pretti initially filming or observing the agents (possibly with a phone, not a weapon).
- Agents physically confronting and wrestling him to the ground.
- An agent disarming Pretti by removing a pistol from his holster—reportedly a legally carried firearm—before shots were fired.
- Pretti on the ground, apparently restrained and unarmed at the time multiple shots were fired by a Border Patrol agent.
Analyses of the footage contradict the official narrative that Pretti was actively threatening officers with a gun during the shooting. Some reports note he was holding a phone in the lead-up, and the disarming occurred prior to the fatal shots.
Administration Response and Criticism Trump administration officials, including DHS statements, have maintained the shooting was justified. However, Pretti’s family has accused officials of “sickening lies,” and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called for ICE agents to be pulled from the state, labeling them “untrained” and demanding accountability.
This is the second fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in recent weeks, following the January death of Renee Nicole Good (sometimes referred to as Renee Good), where DHS officials quickly labeled her a “domestic terrorist” amid disputed circumstances. Critics draw parallels, accusing the administration of a pattern of smearing victims to justify aggressive enforcement tactics during heightened immigration operations under Trump.
Public Reaction The videos have fueled protests in Minneapolis, calls for independent investigations, and a restraining order against DHS in one related court action. National debates continue over use of force, civilian oversight of federal agents, and the role of bystander footage in holding authorities accountable.
Authorities have not yet released bodycam footage or a full official report, and investigations are ongoing. The incident highlights deep divisions over federal immigration enforcement in Democratic-led states.
