# Videos of Alex Pretti Shooting by Federal Agents in Minneapolis Contradict Trump Official Claims
In a tense confrontation during a federal immigration raid in South Minneapolis on Saturday morning, 37-year-old ICU nurse **Alex Pretti** was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents, sparking outrage as bystander videos directly challenge the Trump administration’s self-defense narrative.[1] Eyewitness footage verified by CBS News shows Pretti holding only a cellphone in his right hand and nothing in his left before shots rang out, undermining claims that he brandished a weapon.[1]
## The Incident Unfolds at 26th and Nicollet
The shooting occurred around 9 a.m. on January 24, 2026, amid an ongoing federal crackdown on illegal immigration in Minneapolis. Border Patrol agents, led by Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino, were pursuing a man wanted for domestic assault who was reportedly in the country illegally.[1] Protesters in the area—disrupting the operation with whistles, horns, and shouts—drew agents’ attention. Pretti, a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry and no criminal record, was among them, standing in the street and holding up his phone, possibly recording or directing traffic.[1]
Multiple videos from the scene, analyzed by CBS News, capture the critical moments. Pretti appears compliant, with his left hand empty. A federal agent in a gray jacket is seen reaching into a scuffle empty-handed, then emerging with a gun in his right hand. He turns away from Pretti as the first shot fires, before running across the street amid additional gunfire.[1] A sworn declaration from a local witness—a children’s entertainer specializing in face painting—corroborates this, stating Pretti “did not approach the agents with a gun. He approached them with a camera.” The witness described agents pulling Pretti to the ground without provocation, as he tried to help a woman up, not resist.[1]
This visual evidence starkly **contradicts federal accounts**. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed the agent acted in self-defense after attempting to disarm Pretti, implying he posed an armed threat.[1] Bovino dodged direct questions on whether Pretti brandished a weapon, calling video interpretations “speculation” during a Sunday news conference.[1] Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighted violence against agents, including an HSI officer whose finger was allegedly bitten off, but provided no details linking Pretti to that assault.[1]
## Official Reactions Ignite Political Firestorm
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz dismissed the DHS narrative as “nonsense” after reviewing the videos, emphasizing Pretti held a cellphone, not a gun.[1] The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) faced obstruction: DHS blocked access to the scene despite a judge-signed search warrant.[1] Pretti’s parents, in an NBC4 interview, expressed heartbreak and fury, disputing the disarmament story and noting their son deeply cared for family, friends, and American veterans as an ICU nurse.[2]
Trump administration figures doubled down. President Trump announced sending Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota, praising him as “tough but fair.”[1] Vice President JD Vance accused Minneapolis “authorities” of colluding with “far-left agitators,” a post garnering over 4 million views on X.[1] This marks the third fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks, with only three city homicides total in 2026 so far—two by immigration enforcement.[1]
Legal battles escalated rapidly. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to preserve all evidence following a lawsuit by Minnesota’s attorney general, with a hearing set for Monday.[2] Two federal hearings were scheduled that day, amid Senate Democrats threatening to block a spending bill over DHS funding.[2] The agents involved were transferred to other cities for safety but remain active in the field.[2]
## Broader Context of Federal Operations in Minneapolis
Protests have intensified against federal immigration raids, with locals like witness Javier—living blocks away—recalling arriving after neighbors reported an ICE operation. “I watched the agent shoot him,” Javier said. “Whether I knew him or not, he died for the cause.”[1] Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and others noted the spike in federal-involved deaths, fueling demands for transparency.[1]
The videos’ emergence has shifted public scrutiny. While DHS points to chaotic conditions—objects thrown at agents, including ice—footage shows Pretti not initiating violence.[1] Minnesota officials and Pretti’s family paint a picture of an unarmed bystander caught in escalating federal tactics.[1][2] As vigils honor Pretti and tensions simmer, the clash exposes deepening divides over immigration enforcement in sanctuary-leaning cities like Minneapolis.[2]
## Implications for Accountability and Policy
This incident underscores **video evidence’s power** in contradicting official claims, echoing past high-profile police shootings. With hearings looming and political rhetoric heating up, questions persist: Will federal prosecutors charge agitators as Bondi vowed, or will agent actions face scrutiny?[1] Pretti’s lawful status and clean record complicate the “disarmament” justification, especially as videos show the gun appearing post-scuffle.[1]
As of January 26, 2026, the story evolves with dueling investigations—state versus federal—raising scope and transparency concerns.[2] Minneapolis residents, from nurses’ families to everyday witnesses, demand answers. The videos, now widely circulated, ensure Pretti’s death won’t fade quietly, challenging Trump officials to reconcile footage with their narrative.
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Original source: CNBC Business – Videos of Alex Pretti shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis contradict Trump official claims
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