Megyn Kelly Condemns Slain ICE Protester Following Release of Confrontational Footage
Television host Megyn Kelly has launched a scathing criticism of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis last Saturday. Kelly's comments came after newly-released footage emerged showing Pretti's aggressive confrontation with federal officers just over a week before his death.
Confrontation Captured on Video
The footage, which surfaced on Wednesday, depicts Pretti engaging in what authorities describe as a heated altercation with federal officers conducting immigration raids. In the video, Pretti can be seen spitting at the window of a Ford Expedition SUV occupied by federal agents before angrily kicking its tail light, causing the component to shatter and fall off the vehicle.
Audio from the recording captures Pretti screaming obscenities at the officers, including calling them "f*****g trash" as the SUV attempted to pull away from the scene. The confrontation escalated when an officer exited the vehicle and physically engaged with Pretti, pinning him to the ground as bystanders screamed in the background.
Kelly's Strong Response on Social Media
Sharing the footage on social media platforms, Kelly made her position unequivocally clear regarding Pretti's behaviour. "He had been victimizing them," she asserted, describing Pretti's actions as "stalking, harassing and terrorizing" Border Patrol agents.
Kelly further argued that Pretti "was itching for another confrontation" with federal officers and that his "felonies were on tape." In her concluding remarks, she stated bluntly that Pretti "was reckless and it cost him his life," while challenging immigration advocates to "find another poster boy."
Investigation and Administrative Actions
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed it is reviewing the newly-released footage as part of its ongoing investigation into the fatal shooting that occurred on January 24th. According to official statements, the two Border Patrol agents involved in Pretti's shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Sources within Homeland Security have revealed to media outlets that the agents, whose identities remain undisclosed, were suspended following standard procedure. They will receive mental health support during their leave and, upon returning to duty, will be assigned to desk roles rather than field operations while the investigation continues.
Conflicting Accounts and Legal Perspectives
Authorities initially claimed that Pretti was brandishing a 9mm handgun during the confrontation that led to his death, with Border Patrol agents stating they fired ten shots in response to this perceived threat. However, a new government report has cast doubt on these allegations, suggesting there is no evidence that Pretti removed the legally-owned firearm from his waistband during the incident.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show a Border Patrol agent disarming Pretti moments before he was shot multiple times, including in the back. This visual evidence has contributed to growing public scepticism about the official narrative of events.
Family Representation and Public Opinion
Legal representatives for Pretti's family have confirmed his identity in the newly-released footage. Attorney Steve Schleicher, a former federal prosecutor who previously worked on the Derek Chauvin case, issued a statement on behalf of the family challenging any connection between the earlier confrontation and the subsequent shooting.
"A week before Alex was gunned down in the street - despite posing no threat to anyone - he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents," Schleicher stated. "Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex's killing at the hands of ICE on January 24th."
Public opinion appears divided on the matter, with a recent poll indicating that 54 percent of American voters believe federal law enforcement committed murder in Pretti's case. Notably, 22 percent of Republican respondents shared this view, while only 21 percent of all participants considered the shooting justified.
Broader Political Context
Pretti's death represents the second fatal shooting involving ICE agents within weeks, following the January 7th killing of Renee Nicole Good. These incidents have generated significant political pressure on the current administration regarding immigration enforcement practices.
While some officials have attempted to characterise Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" due to his possession of a firearm during the incident, the emerging evidence and conflicting accounts have created a complex narrative that continues to evolve as investigations proceed.
The case has reignited national debates about immigration enforcement methods, appropriate use of force by federal agents, and the rights of protesters, with legal proceedings and official reviews expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
