Videos contradicts DHS claims Alex Pretti was a threat and had ever brandished his legal carry and conceal gun as Trump administration officials double down and insist the Minneapolis nurse was in the wrong, even claiming he’d assaulted federal agents. But had he?
Trump administration officials have remained steadfast that Minneapolis nurse, Alex Jeffrey Pretti had instigated Saturday’s morning fatal shooting after allegedly ‘assaulting’ federal agents as they sought to round up ‘targeted’ illegal aliens.
Nevertheless new video and screenshots shared on social media are not necessarily corroborating official’s account and seemingly contradicting such claims.
Leading up to the fatal shooting just on 9.00 a.m in South Minneapolis, the 37-year-old nurse, Alex Pretti, is seen in video filming the actions of Department of Homeland Security federal agents as they clash with protesters. Pretti is seen holding a cellphone against his chest in the middle of the street.
Border Patrol chief defends fatal shooting of Minneapolis nurse
alex pretti clear and slow motion video , end of debate. https://t.co/xlOLO3AJlt
— Gurpreet Garry Walia (@garrywalia_) January 25, 2026
Minneapolis nurse refuses to get out of agents way as female protester is pepper sprayed
At some point a skirmish involving a female protester and a federal agent erupts behind him, as the woman cries as she is pepper sprayed, the registered nurse intercedes while attempting to stand in between the woman and the agent.
Was Pretti interfering? Had he assaulted the agent or threatened to do so while standing in the way of the agent? Had he invited his own comeuppance when he refused to move out of the way? Or had he even threatened agents? Or had they simply noticed he had a gun on a hip holster as he shielded the female protester?
At some point as witnesses begin to record the unfolding scene, Pretti is swamped and overwhelmed by six to eight agents as the group engage in a physical struggle. As the tussling intensifies, screenshots from new video angles shows an agent in tan removing Pretti’s gun (Minnesota allows legal conceal and carry) while another screenshot appears to also show Pretti possibly brandishing a handgun. Or was he simply holding on to his cellphone during the tussle?
Moments later rapid gunshots are heard before Pretti lays motionless on his back as a female bystander is heard screaming hysterically, ‘‘Oh my God, Oh my God! What the f–k did you just do?. ‘Why did you do that?!’
Alex Jeffrey Pretti new video angle raises troubling questions
Another Video Confirms the 37 year old was disarmed and had both his hands clear on the Ground before he was Shot!!!! In Minneapolis https://t.co/Pgm9gTbfK8 pic.twitter.com/pYJTCBc7Fw
— Ali (@MerruX) January 24, 2026
Alex Pretti family demand DHS stop lying about their son, ‘he was a hero!’
Offered Lou Raguse, an investigative journalist with KARE 11 News; ‘I’ve reviewed every available video of the Border Patrol shooting … and there is one angle in particular that I think is important to see.’
‘You can see the agent in gray pull Pretti’s gun out from the back of his pants right in front of this Border Patrol agent who draws his weapon.’
‘That agent then fires up to 10 times again after Alex Pretti is disarmed,’ Raguse said. ‘I froze the video right before the second shot, which appeared to be right into Alex’s back.’
Raguse said the footage directly undermines claims made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has repeatedly asserted that Pretti ‘brandished’ a weapon.
‘This video directly contradicts Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s claim that Pretti brandished the weapon or approached officers with the weapon,’ Raguse said. ‘No video even shows Pretti reach for it.’
Trump administration officials double down
Despite the situation remaining flux, DHS officials stated agents continued to insist that Pretti had instigated the confrontation.
Stated Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, ‘This individual showed up to impede a law enforcement operation and assaulted our officers. They responded according to their training and took action to defend the officer’s life and those of the public around him.’
Reiterated Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino to media, ‘During this operation, an individual approached U.S. Border Patrol agents with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun. 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.”
Bovino offered no additional details, no body-camera footage, and no explanation for why the videos appear to contradict DHS’s account.
Instead, he focused on the agent’s resume.
‘The officer was highly trained and had been serving as a Border Patrol agent for eight years,’ Bovino said, adding the officer had extensive training as a range safety and less-lethal officer.
