On January 13, 2025, a video captured a contentious encounter between Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis. The incident, which involved a verbal and physical confrontation, has gained significant attention following Pretti's subsequent fatal shooting by federal officers.
The footage, which was confirmed as genuine by Pretti's family and authenticated using BBC facial recognition technology, depicts Pretti shouting at the agents and damaging a tail light on an ICE vehicle. The altercation escalated as Pretti kicked the light, prompting an agent to exit the vehicle and engage with him physically. Additional agents joined the fray, leading to a struggle that was met with audible alarm from onlookers.
During the course of the confrontation, federal agents used tear gas and pepper balls to disperse the crowd that had gathered. After being released by the agents, Pretti collected personal items that were dislodged in the scuffle and departed the scene, visibly carrying a firearm in his waistband.
The Department of Homeland Security has stated it is conducting an investigation into the events captured in the video. Notably, Pretti was not arrested for the property damage inflicted on the federal vehicle.
The scene of the confrontation was reportedly filmed by Max Shapiro, a Minneapolis tax attorney, near his son's daycare center. Shapiro, who had no prior acquaintance with Pretti, was observing the situation as part of a group of parents monitoring ICE activities around school zones. He described the exchange as having escalated after agents decided to remain in the area, rather than leave as expected, which caused distress among onlookers.
Steve Schleicher, the former federal prosecutor known for his role in the Derek Chauvin trial, is representing Pretti's family pro bono. He contends that Pretti posed no threat and that the previous week's events could not justify the fatal outcome. Schleicher's statement emphasizes the apparent disparity between Pretti's actions during the January 13 incident and his killing by ICE agents on January 24.
This incident has sparked discussions regarding the interactions between federal law enforcement and civilians, particularly in the context of immigration enforcement. The video's release has brought renewed scrutiny to the use of force by ICE agents and the circumstances leading to Pretti's death.
