Newly reviewed video footage has raised 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 on January 24 during an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. The incident has drawn intense scrutiny because it occurred amid expanded federal activity in the area and because Pretti is the second Minneapolis resident killed by federal agents within the same month.
The shooting sparked protests in Minneapolis and in other cities across the country, reflecting widespread public concern over federal enforcement practices. As the story was still developing, journalists contacted Pretti’s family, and his sister was reportedly too distraught to speak. In a statement released to CNN, his parents described him as a compassionate caregiver devoted to helping others, particularly American veterans he served as an ICU nurse, and emphasized his desire to make a meaningful difference in the world.
Federal officials initially stated that agents fired their weapons after encountering an armed individual who posed a direct threat. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol agents assisting with enforcement efforts claimed that Pretti produced a firearm and resisted attempts to control it, prompting an agent to fire defensive shots out of fear for officer safety.
That explanation has been questioned following the release of multiple videos recorded by bystanders and officers. The footage appears to show Pretti holding a cellphone and recording agents as they approached him, with no firearm clearly visible in his hands before the shooting. During a brief physical struggle, an officer can be seen reaching toward Pretti’s waist and pulling away an object resembling a handgun, after which gunshots occur almost immediately.
Further controversy has arisen from audio recorded after Pretti had already been shot and was lying on the ground. When slowed and isolated, the audio appears to capture officers discussing the location of a gun, including the phrase “where’s the gun,” raising questions about whether the weapon was secured before or after lethal force was used. Federal authorities have confirmed that all video and audio evidence is under review as part of an internal investigation, though no agent has been publicly identified as firing the fatal shots.
Pretti’s family has rejected the government’s account, stating that claims he posed an immediate threat are contradicted by video evidence showing him filming with his phone. They have called for a full and transparent investigation and the release of all body-camera footage and related communications. The case has gained additional attention because it follows the January 7 killing of another 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, during a separate encounter with federal immigration officers, increasing tensions between federal authorities and local leaders over the impact of expanded federal enforcement in the community.
