Minneapolis is once again reeling after the fatal shooting of US citizen Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents. This marks the second such death this month, fueling outrage and a stark conflict between federal officials and local accounts.
According to the Trump administration, Pretti, an ICU nurse, assaulted agents and impeded their operation, forcing them to fire in self-defense. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino stated Pretti became aggressive and resisted. They emphasized he was carrying a licensed gun, although they couldn’t confirm he used it to impede.
However, bystander videos paint a profoundly different picture. Reuters verified footage shows Pretti, 37, holding a phone, not a gun, as he attempted to help female protesters being pushed by agents. The video captures an agent pepper-spraying Pretti, followed by a struggle where agents pin him down. Crucially, footage appears to show an agent removing a gun from Pretti *before* he was shot four times in the back, seemingly by multiple officers.
Local law enforcement, including Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, called the federal version “deeply disturbing,” stating “the videos speak for themselves.” US Senator Amy Klobuchar slammed the federal surge as “completely out of control.”
This incident, alongside the earlier controversial shooting of Renee Good, has ignited large protests. Local officials have filed legal challenges, securing a temporary restraining order to prevent the destruction of evidence. The community mourns Pretti, remembering him as “caring and kind,” while demanding answers amidst mounting tensions and conflicting narratives.
