I watched the video more than once, hoping I was missing something. I wasn’t.
A fatal shooting in Minneapolis is now at the center of national outrage after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and ICU nurse, during an immigration enforcement operation on Saturday morning.
The shooting happened around 9:05 a.m. near Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street. It is the second fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in the city this month, during a renewed enforcement crackdown.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), agents fired in self-defense. Officials claim Pretti approached them with a handgun and resisted efforts to disarm him.
But the videos tell a more complicated story.
📹 What the Videos Appear to Show
Footage circulating online shows Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, while filming agents in the street. At one point, an officer appears to push a woman. Pretti steps between them.
Moments later:
- An agent sprays Pretti with a chemical irritant
- Pretti turns away and raises an open hand
- Multiple agents force him to the ground
- Gunshots erupt seconds later
Ten shots can be heard.
No weapon is visible in Pretti’s hands in the footage.
🔫 The Gun Question
After the shooting, DHS released a photo of a 9mm handgun they say belonged to Pretti. Officials claim he had ammunition and no ID.
But Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Pretti was believed to be a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry and had no criminal record beyond parking tickets.
Even more troubling, the police chief said DHS has not shared full details of the incident with local authorities.
💔 A Family Demanding the Truth
Pretti’s parents say federal officials are lying.
In a statement, they said their son was holding his phone and using his other hand to protect a woman being pepper-sprayed.
“Alex was a kind, caring man,” they said. “Please get the truth out about our son.”
Pretti worked as a nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, caring for American veterans.
🔥 Why This Matters
Protests erupted after the shooting. Local leaders are again calling for federal agents to leave the city.
With video evidence contradicting official claims, one thing is clear: this case is far from over.
And for many Americans watching, it raises a chilling question — who is telling the truth?
