New footage shows Alex Pretti was tackled by ICE agents days before his fatal shooting
Videos released this week reveal that Alex Pretti, who was later killed by US Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis, was violently restrained by federal immigration agents during a protest 11 days earlier.
Freshly surfaced video footage has added a new dimension to the national debate over the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was shot dead by federal agents in Minneapolis last month. The recordings show Pretti being forced to the ground by masked immigration officers during a protest nearly two weeks before his death.
Earlier confrontation captured on camera
The newly released videos, filmed on 13 January, show Pretti shouting at federal vehicles during an immigration enforcement operation before kicking the rear light of an unmarked SUV. Moments later, several helmeted agents exit the vehicle and move toward him.
Pretti is seen being grabbed, pulled to the ground and restrained during a brief struggle. His winter coat is torn off as officers attempt to subdue him. Shortly afterwards, he is either released or manages to break free and runs from the scene.
Although a handgun appears to be visible in his waistband as he turns away, the footage does not show Pretti reaching for the weapon or threatening officers in any way. It remains unclear whether agents noticed the firearm at the time.
Family source confirms identity
A person close to Pretti’s family confirmed that the individual shown in the videos is indeed Alex Pretti and said he had informed relatives about the encounter. The source spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.
Lawyer: footage does not justify killing
Pretti’s parents’ attorney, Steve Schleicher, said the earlier incident could not be used to excuse what happened days later.
“A full week before Alex was killed, he was assaulted by federal agents despite posing no danger,” Schleicher said in a written statement. “Nothing that occurred on 13 January can justify him being shot dead in the street on 24 January.”
Fatal shooting reignites scrutiny
Pretti was killed while filming immigration agents during a later protest in Minneapolis. Video recorded by bystanders shows him being pushed to the ground, surrounded by multiple officers and shot while lying face-down.
At the time of the shooting, Pretti was legally carrying a firearm but did not draw it. Footage shows he was holding a mobile phone when he was shot in the back.
Trump administration officials initially claimed Pretti posed a lethal threat and acted aggressively toward officers. However, multiple videos from the scene have since contradicted those assertions.
Political and public reaction
The resurfaced footage has reignited political tensions around the case. Donald Trump Jr. shared one of the videos on social media, prompting criticism from civil rights advocates who accused officials of attempting to retroactively justify the killing.
The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed that it is reviewing both the newly released footage and the earlier confrontation, though it remains unclear whether the same officers were involved in both incidents.
Calls for accountability grow
Civil liberties groups say the videos strengthen demands for an independent investigation into Pretti’s death and broader scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics.
As protests continue in Minneapolis and beyond, Pretti’s case has become a focal point in a wider debate over the use of force by immigration authorities and the limits of federal power during domestic operations.
