The death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis, has been ruled a homicide by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner. The ruling, released online on Monday, nine days after the shooting, stated that Pretti suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died on the same day, but provided no further details about the autopsy.
Pretti was killed on January 24 by two federal agents from Texas, identified as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35. The agents were assigned to Operation Metro Surge, a deployment of thousands of federal agents to Minnesota in December as part of the Trump administration's anti-immigration crackdown.
This ruling follows a similar homicide determination for Renee Nicole Good, who was also fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis. In response to growing calls for accountability, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the immediate distribution of body-worn cameras to all immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis, with plans to expand the programme nationwide as funding allows.
Top Trump administration officials had previously characterised both Good and Pretti as perpetrators of domestic terrorism, despite video footage of both incidents appearing to contradict those claims. Recent days have seen apparent attempts by the administration to moderate its approach, including the removal of Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino from the city.
President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he had ordered the DHS not to intervene in protests in Democratic-led cities unless local leaders request assistance, though he noted federal officers would remain forceful in protecting federal property. Over 300 'ICE Out of Everywhere' protests took place on Saturday, with a 'national shutdown' event on Friday encouraging people to skip work, school and shopping in protest against the federal actions.
