Full story
Alex Pretti shooting timeline
On Jan. 24, federal immigration agents fatally shot 37-year-old intensive-care nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
“Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA, was fatally shot by federal immigration agents during a recent enforcement surge in Minneapolis.”
Around Jan. 13, newly released bystander and news-crew video shows a man identified as Pretti shouting at immigration-enforcement vehicles, kicking out an SUV taillight, being wrestled to the ground by masked, helmeted officers, and then walking away.
In that clip a handgun is visible tucked into his waistband, though the video does not show him drawing it.
The Jan. 24 recordings show officers subduing Pretti, an officer shouting that he had a gun, and two officers firing during the encounter, after which Pretti died, sparking immediate public outcry, memorials, and demands for accountability.
Pretti video evidence
The released videos have become central evidence and point to contested details.
Several clips show a handgun visible in Pretti's waistband during the Jan. 13 scuffle but do not show him drawing it.
Footage of the Jan. 24 encounter includes an officer yelling 'He's got a gun' and two officers firing as they tried to subdue him.
Some recordings and witness accounts suggest Pretti was holding a phone when tackled and that an agent removed or secured his firearm before shots were fired.
Other recordings show officers using pepper spray and force during the interaction.
Investigators say the recordings are being reviewed, but the videos alone do not resolve whether officers perceived an imminent lethal threat.
Reactions and investigations
Political leaders and agency officials reacted sharply: President Trump and some allies reposted and cited the Jan. 13 footage to criticize Pretti, with Trump calling him an "agitator" and at times using harsher language.
“President Trump on Friday called Alex Pretti 'crazed and out of control' and an 'agitator and perhaps, insurrectionist'...”
Department of Homeland Security officials and some border-enforcement leaders defended agents' accounts and said they relied on the best available information.
At the same time, state and local officials, veterans' and nursing groups, civil-rights advocates and Pretti's family demanded independent reviews, and the Justice Department opened a civil-rights probe with investigators from DHS, the FBI and oversight bodies reported to be involved.
Public reactions and demands
The killing set off protests, vigils and solidarity actions across the U.S., with health-care workers, unions, grassroots organizers and national activists weighing in.
Outlets reported street demonstrations, nurse walkouts and organized 'National Shutdown' actions, while some groups and commentators urged caution and called for full investigations before rushing to judgment.
Gun-rights groups and other organizations also asked for thorough probes and urged restraint in public vilification, while advocates demanded policy changes and accountability for federal enforcement tactics.
Investigations into fatal shooting
Investigations remain underway and key facts are unresolved.
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is reviewing newly released videos that show 37-year-old ICU nurse Alexei “Alex” Pretti in a scuffle with masked, helmeted federal immigration officers about a week before he was fatally shot on Jan. 24...”
Homeland Security Investigations said it is reviewing the earlier videos.
Federal investigators, including the FBI and DOJ civil-rights personnel, are reported to be examining the Jan. 24 shooting.
Officials have not publicly confirmed whether officers in the Jan. 13 scuffle were the same people involved in the killing.
Some outlets report gaps or inconsistencies in official records about the earlier incident.
Legal representatives for Pretti's family have argued that the prior scuffle does not legally justify the use of deadly force in the later encounter.
These points leave fundamental questions about threat perception, officer conduct and agency oversight unresolved.