New Videos Show Earlier Clash Between Alex Pretti and Federal Agents Days Before Fatal Shooting
WASHINGTON — Newly surfaced video shows Alex Pretti being taken to the ground by federal immigration agents during a Minneapolis protest on Jan. 13, after he kicked out the taillight of a federal vehicle, an encounter that occurred 11 days before he was shot and killed by Border Patrol officers.
The videos, which emerged Wednesday, capture a chaotic confrontation in which Pretti shouts at officers, struggles on the ground, and eventually escapes as agents deploy tear gas and retreat. At one point, his winter coat comes off during the scuffle. When Pretti turns away from the camera, what appears to be a handgun is visible in his waistband. The footage does not show Pretti reaching for the weapon, and it remains unclear whether the agents saw it.
A person familiar with the incident confirmed to The Associated Press that the man in the videos is Pretti and that he had told family members about the confrontation. The individual spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.
Video Rekindles Debate Over Pretti’s Death
The release of the footage has reignited national debate over the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s killing on Jan. 24. Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, posted one of the videos on X, commenting sarcastically, “Just a peaceful legal observer.” Pretti’s family attorney said the earlier incident does not justify the fatal shooting.
“A week before Alex was gunned down in the street, despite posing no threat to anyone, he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents,” said Steve Schleicher, a Minneapolis-based lawyer representing Pretti’s parents. “Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex’s killing.”
The Homeland Security Investigations said it is reviewing the newly released videos and the Jan. 13 encounter. Officials have not said whether any of the same officers were involved in both incidents.
Fatal Shooting Captured on Bystander Video
Pretti, 37, worked as an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. He was killed on a sidewalk while recording immigration agents with his phone. Video taken by bystanders shows an officer pushing Pretti, after which multiple officers take him to the ground. One officer shouts, “He’s got a gun,” referring to a handgun Pretti was licensed to carry.
Moments later, two officers fired their weapons, killing Pretti. The footage shows he never brandished the gun and was holding his phone when he was shot in the back while on the ground. The Department of Homeland Security has said two federal officers fired shots and were placed on administrative leave. Trump administration officials initially said Pretti had approached officers with a gun and attacked them. Video evidence reviewed by multiple outlets contradicts that account.
Details of the Earlier Jan. 13 Confrontation
The newly released videos came from two sources: footage published by the Minnesota Star Tribune and obtained by the AP, filmed by Minneapolis attorney Max Shapiro, and a second video shot by The News Movement, an online media outlet. Shapiro said he arrived after seeing messages on Signal indicating immigration enforcement activity in the area.
“The observers were pretty distraught and screaming,” Shapiro said, describing whistles and shouts that drowned out officers’ commands.
In The News Movement video, Pretti is seen yelling at federal vehicles and appearing to spit while calling officers “trash.” As a dark Ford Expedition with flashing lights begins to pull away, Pretti kicks the vehicle’s taillight twice, shattering it. Moments later, an officer wearing a helmet and gas mask exits the SUV, grabs Pretti by the chest, and pulls him toward the street. Additional officers surround Pretti, forcing him to his knees before tear gas is deployed and agents withdraw. After stumbling away, Pretti is seen being embraced by Shapiro, who asks if he is OK.
“Are we all OK? Are we all safe?” Pretti asks others nearby, according to the video.
Ongoing Scrutiny
Shapiro said he understands the videos may be used to portray Pretti negatively but described him as deeply concerned about the impact of the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.
“I’m no immigration policy expert,” Shapiro said. “But there has to be a better way to go about this.”
As federal investigations continue, the release of the earlier footage adds another layer to a case already under intense public and political scrutiny one that now includes questions not only about the final seconds before Pretti’s death, but also about how prior encounters with federal agents are being used to frame it.
