In the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse from Minneapolis, by federal officers, Trump administration officials have been accused of disseminating misleading information about the incident. The shooting occurred during an operation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and within hours, officials including assistant homeland security secretary Tricia McLaughlin and border patrol commander Gregory Bovino made public statements that appeared to contradict video evidence.
Video footage from the scene shows Pretti being taken to the ground by officers after being sprayed with a chemical agent. He was holding a phone, not a gun, as stated by officials who claimed he had a weapon and intended to “massacre law enforcement”. The video further indicates that Pretti was disarmed before an agent shot him repeatedly. However, McLaughlin described the incident as “an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement”, while Bovino asserted Pretti had approached agents with a handgun.
White House senior adviser Stephen Miller also weighed in, branding Pretti “a would-be assassin” on social media, a claim that was accompanied by a reader note on X stating that the gun was never drawn and remained in its holster until removed by an agent. Miller’s comments came in response to Democratic criticism of the operation, which involved the attempted arrest of another man, Jose Huerta-Chuma.
Minnesota officials later contradicted Bovino’s claims about Huerta-Chuma, stating that he had never been in custody and had no felony convictions in the state. At a press conference on Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared the shooting justified, saying the agent fired “defensive shots” fearing for his life. When questioned about when Pretti brandished a gun, Noem avoided specifics, stating the officers responded according to their training.
The incident has raised concerns about the Trump administration’s pattern of vilifying victims in immigration operations, even when evidence contradicts official narratives. The investigation into the shooting continues, with officials promising transparency but facing scrutiny over their initial statements.
