Newly reviewed video footage is raising serious questions about the death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen who was shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation on January 24 in south Minneapolis. His killing sparked protests in Minnesota and beyond, especially as it marked the second fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident by federal agents this month.
Federal officials initially claimed Pretti posed an armed threat, stating he produced a firearm during the encounter. However, multiple bystander videos appear to contradict that account, showing Pretti holding a cellphone and recording agents as they approached. In the footage, no weapon is visible in his hands, and one officer appears to remove an object resembling a handgun from Pretti’s waist moments before shots are fired.
Audio from the scene has further intensified scrutiny. After Pretti had already been shot and was lying on the ground, officers can be heard discussing the location of a gun, raising questions about whether the firearm had been secured before lethal force was used. The Department of Homeland Security says all video and audio evidence is under internal review, though no agent has been publicly identified as firing the fatal shots.
Pretti’s family has forcefully rejected claims that he was a danger, calling them false and inconsistent with the footage. They are demanding a full, transparent investigation and release of all body-camera recordings. The case has drawn even more attention because it follows the January 7 killing of Renee Good, fueling growing concern over federal enforcement tactics and their impact on Minneapolis communities.
