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.
đź“ą 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.
đź’” 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?
