Federal Agents’ Confrontation with Alex Pretti Captured on Video Days Before Fatal Shooting

A series of videos have confirmed that Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old man fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, had confronted the same agency 11 days before his death.

The footage, which has been authenticated by Pretti’s family and their legal team, shows a heated altercation between Pretti and federal agents at a South Minneapolis intersection on January 13. The videos have spread across multiple social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit, prompting questions about their authenticity.

Steve Sleicher, an attorney representing Pretti’s family, confirmed to The Associated Press that the footage is genuine. “A week before Alex was gunned down in the street — despite posing no threat to anyone — he was violently assaulted by a group of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents,” Sleicher stated. “Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex’s killing at the hands of ICE on Jan 24.”

The confrontation was captured from multiple angles by bystanders. In one video, Pretti can be seen running into the frame approximately 17 minutes after recording began, shouting at federal agents: “What the f are you doing here? F you! Get the f*** out of here!”

The footage then shows Pretti spitting into a vehicle driven by federal agents. As the vehicle drives away, Pretti appears to kick it, dislodging a taillight. Subsequent footage shows agents returning, exiting their vehicle, grabbing Pretti, and dragging him to the ground before eventually releasing him after a brief scuffle.

Several news organizations, including The Associated Press and the BBC, have analyzed the footage. The BBC reported using facial recognition technology that provided a “97% match” identifying the man in the video as Pretti. Multiple credible news outlets have also reported that a spokesperson for Pretti’s family confirmed the footage’s authenticity.

Some observers noted that the video appears to show Pretti carrying a handgun in his waistband, though he does not appear to reach for it at any point during the confrontation. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has previously stated that Pretti was a “lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.” Minnesota state law and federal regulations allow licensed gun owners to carry firearms in most public spaces.

The News Movement, which obtained one of the videos, reported that federal agents fired tear gas and pepper balls into a crowd of bystanders during the altercation. Videos show heavy smoke as the agents depart the scene.

The circumstances leading to the initial confrontation remain unclear. It is unknown why federal agents were at the intersection, what preceded the altercation with Pretti, or what specifically triggered the confrontation.

The identities of the federal officers involved in both the January 13 confrontation and the January 24 fatal shooting have not been disclosed. It remains unknown whether any of the same personnel were involved in both incidents. The Border Patrol officers who discharged their firearms during the fatal shooting have been placed on administrative leave, according to statements from the Department of Homeland Security cited in news reports.

The emergence of this footage comes as Pretti’s family has retained legal representation, including Sleicher, who previously helped prosecute the George Floyd case. Anthony Cotton, reportedly hired to represent Pretti’s younger sister, is also involved in the legal response.

The fatal shooting of Pretti on January 24 has sparked widespread attention and controversy. These newly authenticated videos provide additional context to the relationship between Pretti and federal immigration enforcement in the days leading up to his death, though many questions about both incidents remain unanswered as investigations continue.