In a tragic turn of events, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse from Minneapolis, was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents during a protest on Saturday. This incident came just one week after Pretti had a prior altercation with federal law enforcement, sources informed CNN and other media outlets.
According to reports, Pretti suffered a broken rib following an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers after participating in a demonstration against federal immigration enforcement policies. The altercation took place when Pretti, witnessing ICE agents in pursuit of what he believed to be a family on foot, stopped his vehicle to intervene by shouting and blowing a whistle, leading to a physical confrontation with the agents that resulted in his injury.
Pretti was released at the scene, but it was noted that federal officers documented the encounter and continued to monitor him. A source close to the situation expressed Pretti's fear for his life during the initial run-in with law enforcement.
Documents obtained by CNN indicate that agents were directed to collect detailed information on protesters, including photographs, license plates, and identities, which suggests that Pretti's earlier actions may have put him on law enforcement's radar.
The fatal shooting occurred when Pretti was among a group of approximately 50 demonstrators who were confronting Border Patrol agents as they executed the arrest of an individual identified by authorities as a criminal illegal alien in Minneapolis. Blair, a witness interviewed by the New York Post, described the scene as relatively small but escalated quickly to violence. "At about 8:30 I heard a bunch of gunshots, and we knew something bad had happened," Blair recounted.
The Border Patrol reported that Pretti was armed with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and that he resisted attempts by agents to disarm him, prompting a defensive response. "The agents attempted to disarm the individual, but he violently resisted. Fearing for his life, and the lives and safety of fellow officers, a Border Patrol agent fired defensive shots," said Border Patrol head Greg Bovino, as reported by The Post Millennial.
Despite immediate medical assistance, Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene. Video footage reviewed by ABC7 and other media shows a chaotic moment where Pretti is seen intervening between an agent and a woman being sprayed with a substance before several agents restrained him. A firearm was retrieved from Pretti's waistband before shots were fired. Restrictions on the release of the complete body-camera footage have limited public access to the full account of the incident.
Local officials and community members have raised questions about the federal narrative. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara pointed out that Pretti was a licensed handgun owner with no significant criminal history. Footage circulating on social media appears to depict agents pinning Pretti to the ground prior to the shooting. Neighbors described Pretti as a frequent participant in local protests, and some eyewitnesses contend that he was trying to assist others at the time of the confrontation.
The incident has sparked a heated debate over the challenges federal agents encounter during immigration enforcement and the wider implications for public safety and civil liberties in Minneapolis. Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey have urged caution against premature judgments by federal officials before all evidence is thoroughly examined.
Federal authorities are currently reviewing body-camera footage and other evidence to determine whether proper protocols were followed and if the use of force was justified. The case continues to unfold as more details emerge, and the community seeks answers.
