Freshly uncovered video evidence has surfaced, depicting a physical confrontation between Alex Pretti and federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, which took place a mere 11 days before the ICU nurse was shot dead by federal agents. The footage, published on Wednesday by The News Movement, a digital news outlet, adds a new dimension to the ongoing investigation and public outcry surrounding Pretti's death.
Details of the Altercation
The video, lasting about two minutes, captures an incident on 13 January in Minneapolis, during intense community protests against federal immigration enforcement operations in the city. In the footage, Pretti is seen yelling at agents in an unmarked vehicle and kicking the tail light as they attempt to drive away. Shortly after, a heavily armed agent in tactical gear exits the car and appears to tackle Pretti to the ground, with other officers quickly surrounding him.
Despite the violent takedown, Pretti managed to break free from the officers soon after and remained on the scene as the agents departed. The video also shows that during the struggle, Pretti's coat was pulled off, revealing what appears to be a gun in his waistband. It is important to note that Pretti, who reportedly had a permit to carry a concealed handgun, never touched the weapon during or after the altercation.
Family and Legal Responses
A family representative confirmed to the Guardian that the individual in the footage is indeed Alex Pretti. Steve Schleicher, an attorney representing Pretti's family, issued a strong statement condemning the actions of the ICE agents. He emphasised that the violent assault occurred a full week before Pretti was killed and argued that nothing from that prior incident could justify his fatal shooting.
The family also disclosed that they were aware of the altercation and that Pretti sustained injuries from it, but he did not seek medical care at the time. This revelation adds to the growing concerns about the conduct of federal officers during the protests.
Additional Footage and Witness Accounts
In addition to The News Movement video, the Minnesota Star Tribune published a separate bystander video of the same incident, which also shows officers tackling Pretti. Max Shapiro, the witness who filmed the interaction, described the scene to the newspaper, noting that Pretti was slammed to the ground with significant force. The footage concludes with Shapiro approaching Pretti to check on his well-being, to which Pretti responded, "I'm OK. Are we all OK? Are we all safe?"
A third video, posted on YouTube on the day of the incident, captures the chaotic atmosphere of the protests, with cars honking and people blowing whistles to alert neighbours about the presence of federal agents. This video underscores the widespread anger and tension in the community over the immigration enforcement operations.
Context and Broader Implications
The altercation occurred just four blocks away from where Renee Good was killed by an ICE officer the previous week, highlighting the volatile environment in Minneapolis at the time. All videos show that during the incident, agents fired teargas and pepper balls into the crowd as they continued to restrain Pretti, leading to further chaos and resident protests.
Local reports from Sahan Journal, which covers immigrant communities, indicate that over 100 people had gathered to observe and protest the ICE presence. The outlet also reported instances of officers forcibly removing a woman from her vehicle after smashing her window and tackling another man, pushing his head into the ground before carrying him away. State representative Aisha Gomez, who was present at the scene, claimed that agents shoved her without any verbal communication.
Official Reactions and Controversies
When asked about the footage at a CNN town hall, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated that he did not consider it relevant to Pretti's fatal killing 11 days later, urging focus on the circumstances directly leading to the shooting. This stance has sparked debate about the connections between prior interactions and the ultimate outcome.
Furthermore, the Trump administration initially claimed that Pretti was "brandishing" a gun and intended to "massacre" officers on the day he was killed. These claims were contradicted by video evidence showing Pretti holding a phone, not a gun. Pretti's family condemned these statements as "sickening lies" and called for the truth about their son, whom they described as a good man, to be widely disseminated.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday night that they are reviewing the newly released footage, indicating that the incident may prompt further scrutiny of federal agents' actions in Minneapolis.
