Video challenges DHS account after ICU nurse Alex Pretti shot by feds in Minneapolis
Video challenges DHS account after ICU nurse Alex Pretti shot by feds in Minneapolis
New witness footage questions the official gun claim, showing Pretti with a phone, not a weapon, as federal officers fired in Minneapolis.
An ICU nurse identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal officers in Minneapolis on January 24 during a targeted operation, officials said. The Department of Homeland Security described the suspect as armed and resisting as officers attempted to disarm him, claiming he approached agents with a handgun and opened fire.
However, new witness footage circulating online appears to contradict that account by showing Pretti with both hands visible and holding only a phone.
The footage, which The New York Times has verified, captures scenes after the shooting as bystanders and protesters gathered nearby. DHS's description of the operation stated it targeted 'an illegal alien' wanted for violent assault and that an agent fired defensive shots after the suspect allegedly resisted.
Pretti's death has prompted questions about the use of force and the circumstances under which federal officers operate on domestic soil. Supporters of transparency have urged a full, independent review while his colleagues and family mourn the loss of a healthcare professional.
Investigators have not released additional details, and the case has quickly become a focal point in ongoing discussions about accountability for federal law enforcement actions.
