New Videos Show Alex Pretti Scuffle With Federal Agents
Jan. 13 clips show Alex Pretti tackled after damaging a government SUV and a handgun briefly visible in his waistband.
Overview
Two newly obtained videos recorded Jan. 13 show Alex Pretti, 37, kicking out a government SUV’s taillight, being grabbed and forced to the ground by helmeted immigration officers, and a handgun briefly visible in his waistband though the footage does not show him reaching for it and it is unclear whether officers saw the weapon.
Pretti was fatally shot on Jan. 24 by a Border Patrol agent and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer during a separate encounter 11 days after the Jan. 13 scuffle, an incident that has intensified scrutiny of federal enforcement actions in Minneapolis.
A Department of Homeland Security official said Homeland Security Investigations is reviewing the Jan. 13 footage, Steve Schleicher, an attorney for Pretti’s parents, said in a written statement that the earlier altercation did not justify the Jan. 24 killing, and Donald Trump Jr. shared one of the videos on social media with the comment "Just a peaceful legal observer."
A preliminary DHS report to Congress indicates agents fired about 10 shots during the Jan. 24 encounter and a federal law enforcement official confirmed two CBP agents who fired were placed on administrative leave; the Jan. 13 footage was recorded in the Powderhorn neighborhood within half a mile of the Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
Investigations are ongoing, including a Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension inquiry and multiple federal reviews, and officials said further witness interviews and forensic analysis of the Jan. 13 and Jan. 24 videos could inform potential disciplinary or criminal actions.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame coverage skeptically toward federal officials by foregrounding video evidence that contradicts initial official claims, highlighting Pretti's role and lawful gun ownership, and emphasizing investigative steps. They juxtapose official statements with bystander footage and family reactions to shape a narrative that questions the official account.
Sources (78)
FAQ
Videos show Alex Pretti kicking out a government SUV’s taillight, being tackled by helmeted immigration officers, and a handgun briefly visible in his waistband without him reaching for it.
Alex Pretti was shot multiple times and killed by a Border Patrol agent and CBP officer during an encounter; DHS reports agents fired about 10 shots after he approached with a handgun, but video shows his phone in one hand and witnesses say he did not brandish it.
Alex Jeffrey Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care nurse for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
Homeland Security Investigations is reviewing the Jan. 13 footage; ongoing probes include Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension inquiry, multiple federal reviews, witness interviews, and forensic analysis of videos for potential disciplinary or criminal actions.
The incidents occurred amid protests against Operation Metro Surge following the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent; the Jan. 13 scuffle was in Powderhorn neighborhood near that shooting.
History
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