Trump Administration Releases Details on Fatal Border Patrol Shooting in Minneapolis

The Trump administration has provided Congress with a preliminary review of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. The notification, sent Tuesday, includes a timeline of events and new information about the officers who fired the fatal shots.

Pretti was shot and killed Saturday while documenting federal immigration operations as part of Operation Metro Surge. According to witness videos, the incident began when Pretti attempted to assist a woman who had been knocked down by agents. The confrontation escalated when Pretti was sprayed with an irritant, pushed to the ground and physically restrained by officers.

The report, compiled by Border Patrol’s Office of Professional Responsibility Investigative Operations Directorate, confirms that two federal agents discharged their weapons during the incident. One agent fired a CBP-issued Glock 19, while the second used a CBP-issued Glock 47. The report also notes the existence of body-worn camera footage, though it remains unclear whether this evidence will be released publicly.

According to the administration’s timeline, the confrontation began around 9 a.m. when Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers were conducting enforcement actions near the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street in Minneapolis. Several civilians were in the area, reportedly “yelling and blowing whistles.”

Despite verbal requests for civilians to remain on sidewalks, tensions escalated when a Customs and Border Protection officer confronted two women who were blowing whistles in the roadway. When the women allegedly did not comply with orders to move, the officer pushed them. Video footage shows one woman running toward Pretti during this altercation.

The report states that after attempting to move both the woman and Pretti out of the road, the officer deployed pepper spray toward them. Border Patrol agents then tried to take Pretti into custody, but officials claim he “resisted,” leading to a physical struggle.

During this confrontation, an unidentified Border Patrol agent shouted “He’s got a gun!” multiple times. Approximately five seconds later, two federal officers opened fire. Following the shooting, an agent confirmed possession of Pretti’s gun, described as a 9mm pistol, which was subsequently “cleared and secured” in a vehicle.

At 9:02 a.m., CBP personnel provided immediate medical assistance to Pretti by cutting his clothing and applying chest seals to his wounds. Minneapolis Fire Department Emergency Medical Services arrived three minutes later and assumed primary medical care. Pretti was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center at approximately 9:14 a.m., where he was pronounced dead at 9:32 a.m.

An autopsy will be conducted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, with Border Patrol’s investigative unit expected to request the official findings upon completion.

The shooting has sparked significant protests in Minneapolis, with demonstrators gathering to oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. The incident has also drawn national attention, with President Biden speaking out against the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, saying it goes against American values.

The Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection have not yet responded to requests for additional comment on the incident. As investigations continue, questions remain about the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting and whether the use of deadly force was justified in this situation.