A forensic body language expert has challenged the Department of Homeland Security’s account of Alex Pretti’s death, citing video footage that appears to show a federal agent in a gray jacket removing Pretti’s firearm, turning away, and running as ICE agents shot the unarmed ICU nurse in the back. Pretti, 37, was fatally shot on January 24 during an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis, coming just weeks after another fatal federal immigration-related shooting in the city involving Renee Good. The incidents have drawn national attention, sparking public outrage and renewed debates over federal enforcement practices.
Former President Donald Trump publicly defended the federal operation, describing the gun allegedly taken from Pretti as “a very dangerous and unpredictable weapon” and arguing that shootings should be evaluated in context. Similarly, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem maintained that Pretti posed a threat, claiming he was brandishing a firearm and attacking officers during the operation. These official accounts, however, have been called into question by multiple video recordings showing Pretti holding only a cellphone, being pepper-sprayed, forced to the ground, and surrounded by agents, with no clear evidence that he drew his weapon.
Eyewitnesses reported that Pretti was attempting to assist a woman who had been knocked down during the chaos, rather than threatening officers. The footage indicates he was trying to comply with law enforcement rather than escalate the confrontation. Analysts argue that this narrative contrasts sharply with claims of an imminent threat, as Pretti appears on the ground and unarmed when lethal force was used.
Dr. G Explains, a forensic and clinical psychologist specializing in body language analysis, reviewed the footage and concluded that the agents’ actions suggested escalation rather than de-escalation. He highlighted instances in which Pretti, already subdued and on his knees, was struck with pepper spray. Dr. G focused on the officer in the gray jacket, who appears to remove Pretti’s firearm from his waistband and fail to alert other agents before ICE officers began firing, raising questions about the necessity and timing of the shooting.
Dr. G emphasized that after the gun was removed, the agent in gray turned away and ran while shots were fired, behavior inconsistent with the assumption that Pretti posed a continuing armed threat. From a behavioral perspective, turning one’s back on an allegedly armed individual would be highly unusual, suggesting a disconnect between official accounts and the observable events. His analysis, combined with video evidence, has strengthened calls for an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances of Pretti’s death.
Pretti’s family has strongly criticized federal officials, calling the government’s narrative “false and damaging” and highlighting that he was unarmed and attempting to protect a woman when shot. They urged the public to focus on video evidence rather than rhetoric, describing Alex as a good man who was tragically killed. As federal investigations continue, the incident has become emblematic of broader debates over accountability, use of force, and transparency in federal immigration enforcement, drawing widespread attention and sparking public demand for answers.
