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Federal agents fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti on a Minneapolis street Saturday, but newly released footage contradicts the Department of Homeland Security’s official account of the incident.
The video, published by Drop Site News, shows Pretti appearing to direct traffic and filming federal agents with his phone before the confrontation turned deadly. In the footage, Pretti is pepper-sprayed and then wrestled to the ground by multiple agents. Approximately six federal officers are seen either on top of him or in his immediate vicinity when shots are fired. The gunfire continues even after Pretti is already on the ground.
This visual evidence directly challenges the DHS statement released Saturday afternoon, which claimed that “an individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.” While DHS shared a photo of a handgun allegedly belonging to Pretti and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara indicated Pretti appeared to be a licensed gun owner, the video clearly shows Pretti was not holding a weapon during the confrontation or when agents tackled him.
The DHS statement further characterized the incident as a situation where “an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement” – language suggesting an active shooter scenario. However, the footage from Drop Site News shows Pretti peacefully observing federal agents before they approached and tackled him, with no evidence he attempted to harm officers or commit violence.
During a Saturday press conference, Border Patrol official Greg Bovino maintained the agency’s narrative, stating that Pretti approached agents with a semiautomatic weapon. When reporters asked when agents discovered Pretti had a gun and whether he had brandished it, Bovino deflected, describing the situation as “evolving” and promising an investigation “just like we have done over the past several years.”
The Minneapolis shooting marks the second controversial killing by federal immigration agents in the city this month. Earlier in January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renée Good at point-blank range. Rather than investigating Ross, the administration reportedly attempted to investigate Good’s partner, leading multiple federal prosecutors in Minnesota to resign in protest.
The New York Times reported Friday that FBI agent Tracee Mergen also resigned after “bureau leadership in Washington pressured her to discontinue a civil rights inquiry” into Ross’s actions.
Critics point to a pattern of DHS misrepresentations under the current administration. Last year, the agency falsely claimed that all of the more than 200 Venezuelans it deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison were members of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. Despite reporting from Mother Jones and other outlets refuting this claim, DHS never retracted its statements.
In Good’s case, the administration initially labeled her a “domestic terrorist,” claiming she attempted to run over federal agents. Video analysis by the Times later showed Good was trying to drive away from masked agents, not toward them.
Even President Trump softened his stance as public skepticism grew about the administration’s account of Good’s killing, calling it a “tragedy” on Tuesday and acknowledging that immigration agents sometimes “going to make a mistake.”
The Pretti shooting has intensified scrutiny of federal law enforcement tactics and raised questions about transparency and accountability within DHS. Community activists in Minneapolis are demanding an independent investigation of both recent killings, arguing that the administration’s shifting narratives undermine public trust in federal law enforcement operations.
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8 Comments
This is a concerning situation that deserves thorough examination. I hope the authorities conduct a transparent investigation and provide a full accounting of the events based on all available evidence, including this video footage.
While the official account claimed the individual was armed, the video evidence seems to contradict that. I’ll be interested to see how the authorities respond to this new information and what steps they take to address the discrepancy.
This new video footage certainly raises questions about the official account of this incident. It’s concerning to see the level of force used against an individual who doesn’t appear to have been an immediate threat. More transparency and accountability is needed in these types of cases.
The video seems to paint a very different picture than the official statement. I’ll be watching closely to see how this develops and whether the authorities are able to reconcile the conflicting information.
This new video evidence raises serious questions about the official narrative. Incidents like this highlight the need for increased transparency and independent oversight when it comes to the use of force by law enforcement and federal agents.
It’s concerning to see the level of force used against someone who doesn’t appear to have posed an immediate threat based on the video. I hope this leads to a full investigation to determine the facts and ensure appropriate accountability, if warranted.
The discrepancy between the video footage and the official statement is troubling. I’m glad this alternative evidence has come to light, as it highlights the need for greater scrutiny of police/federal agent actions, especially in high-stakes confrontations.
Appreciate you sharing this video evidence. It’s important to have all the facts before jumping to conclusions. I hope the authorities conduct a thorough, impartial investigation to get to the bottom of what happened and ensure justice is served.