Minneapolis Nurse Shooting: Gun's Discharge History Emerges Amid Evidence Battle
The handgun carried by intensive care nurse Alex Pretti when he was fatally shot during a Minneapolis immigration enforcement operation has a documented history of unintentionally discharging, according to emerging reports. This revelation comes as a federal judge issues a temporary restraining order to preserve evidence related to the controversial incident.
Fatal Encounter During Immigration Operation
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot dead by a Border Patrol agent during a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis early Saturday morning. The nurse was legally carrying a loaded Sig Sauer P320 9mm pistol with a valid permit when he allegedly attempted to intervene as agents detained a woman.
Department of Homeland Security officials stated that shots were fired defensively after Pretti allegedly resisted officers violently. Bystander video captured approximately 30 seconds of struggle before someone shouted "gun, gun," though it remains unclear whether this referred to Pretti's weapon or an agent's firearm.
Contested Sequence of Events
Video evidence does not definitively show who fired the first shot, but gun expert Rob Dobar, a lawyer for the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, has presented analysis suggesting Pretti's Sig Sauer P320 may have discharged first. Dobar wrote on social media platform X that he believes "it's highly likely the first shot was a negligent discharge from the agent in the grey jacket after he removed the Sig P320 from Pretti's holster while exiting the scene."
This analysis emerges as US District Judge Eric Tostrud issued a temporary restraining order Saturday evening, prohibiting the Trump administration from destroying or altering evidence related to Pretti's death. The injunction requires federal agencies to preserve all evidence from the Minneapolis shooting, including items already removed from the scene or taken into exclusive federal custody.
Legal Actions and Official Responses
The judicial order followed a lawsuit filed by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Hennepin County Attorney's Office against the Trump administration, alleging crime scene tampering. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated during a news conference that Pretti, who had protested President Donald Trump's immigration policies, appeared to "impede a law enforcement operation."
Noem questioned why Pretti was armed but provided no details about whether he drew or brandished the weapon. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed that officers believed Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid carry permit.
Weapon History and Specifications
The Sig Sauer P320 carried by Pretti is widely used by American civilians and law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. However, the model has attracted more than 100 complaints regarding defects that can cause "uncommanded" firing.
Photographs revealed Pretti was armed with a P320 AXG Combat variant, a high-end custom weapon that typically retails for over $1,300 and can hold three 21-round magazines. This specific model's characteristics have become central to understanding the shooting's circumstances.
Growing Legal and Political Fallout
State and city officials filed a lawsuit Saturday against DHS, ICE, Customs and Border Patrol and their leadership over Pretti's fatal shooting. The complaint alleges that federal agents removed evidence from the scene, preventing state authorities from conducting proper inspection.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has demanded a "full, impartial, and transparent investigation" into the incident, stating that "federal agents are not above the law and Alex Pretti is certainly not beneath it." Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty echoed these sentiments, vowing to pursue "transparency and accountability" and review the shooting for potential criminal conduct by federal agents.
Video Evidence and Witness Accounts
Multiple videos show Pretti filming with his phone while confronting federal agents before being pepper-sprayed and shot. The footage captures a complex sequence where Pretti appears to be assisting another protester who had fallen, reaching his arms toward an officer before pepper spray deployment.
Seconds later, approximately half a dozen federal officers surrounded Pretti, wrestling him to the ground and striking him several times. Videos show an officer backing away from the struggle with what appears to be a gun in his right hand just before the first shot is heard.
Family Response and Broader Context
Pretti's family released a searing statement Saturday evening, describing themselves as "heartbroken but also very angry" while accusing the Trump administration of spreading "sickening lies" about their son. They remembered Pretti as a kindhearted individual dedicated to making a difference through nursing.
The shooting occurred just over a mile from where an ICE officer killed 37-year-old Renee Good on January 7, an incident that sparked widespread protests. The Border Patrol agent involved in Pretti's shooting is an eight-year veteran whose identity remains undisclosed, though officials confirm he had extensive training as a range safety officer and in less-lethal force techniques.
Judge Tostrud has scheduled a hearing for Monday to review the temporary restraining order as investigations continue into this complex case involving immigration enforcement, gun rights, and police accountability.
