A fierce and deeply contentious debate has erupted following the fatal shooting of Minneapolis nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti, with serious questions emerging about whether the 37-year-old truly posed any immediate threat to Department of Homeland Security officers during the incident. Federal authorities, led by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, maintain that Pretti "brandished" his legally-owned handgun at officers who were attempting to detain an individual described as an illegal migrant with a criminal record.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge
According to official statements from the Department of Homeland Security, Alex Jeffrey Pretti was killed after he "approached US border patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun" during an operation on Saturday morning. A spokesperson emphasised that officers responded to a perceived threat. However, this account is being vigorously challenged by multiple bystander videos that have surfaced in the aftermath, casting significant doubt on the sequence of events as described by federal officials.
Video Evidence Under Scrutiny
The footage, recorded from several angles, appears to show Pretti initially filming a Border Patrol operation with his mobile phone. His right hand held the phone while his left hand appeared empty, as a small group of anti-ICE protesters created a disturbance nearby. The videos depict an altercation where two women were forcefully pushed by an agent, prompting Pretti to intervene. He placed his arm around one woman as an agent shoved another to the ground.
Pretti then moved to confront the agent, who responded by pushing him away and deploying pepper spray. Pretti used his hands to block the spray and assist the woman on the floor. During the ensuing chaotic struggle, as approximately six additional agents arrived, Pretti was forced face down onto his knees and pinned. Crucially, the footage shows an agent in a brown beanie striking Pretti in the head with his firearm.
The Crucial Disarmament Moment
The most pivotal moment captured on video, which directly contradicts the official DHS narrative, shows an agent in blue jeans and a light grey jacket apparently removing a firearm from Pretti's waistband or holster. This object closely resembles the handgun later identified by DHS as belonging to Pretti. Moments after this apparent disarmament, an agent in a black beanie appears to shoot Pretti at close range, from the side or behind, backing away while continuing to fire. The agent in the brown beanie also appeared to discharge his weapon. Roughly ten to twelve shots were fired within a five-second period.
Legal and Political Fallout
Democrats and civil liberties advocates have been quick to highlight that Minnesota is an open-carry state, where it is generally legal to carry a firearm without a permit. They argue the video evidence raises profound questions about whether Pretti posed an immediate, lethal threat at the precise moment deadly force was employed. Federal officials have yet to publicly explain why multiple shots were fired after Pretti was subdued on the ground or clarify when officers first became aware he was armed.
Noem's Defence and Evasion
At a press conference, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem firmly defended the agents' actions. When pressed by a journalist who noted the video "appears to show him disarmed before shots were fired," Noem declined to address the specific timing shown in the footage. "We're continuing to follow the exact same protocols that we always have. This investigation is ongoing," she stated, broadening her remarks to detail the original operation targeting an individual illegally in the country with a conviction for domestic assault.
Noem insisted, "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." She added, "I don't know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign. This is a violent riot when you have someone showing up with weapons and are using them to assault law enforcement officers."
Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Investigation
The case continues to draw intense scrutiny as the investigation proceeds. The parents of the deceased have identified him as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse and avid outdoorsman. The Border Patrol Union offered its own justification for the events shortly after the shooting. However, the central dispute remains unresolved: whether the use of lethal force was justified after the apparent removal of Pretti's firearm, and whether the official account aligns with the visual evidence now in the public domain. The lack of clarity from federal authorities on these critical timing issues ensures the debate will rage on.
