Video contradicts DHS claim: ICU nurse Alex Pretti shot by feds in Minneapolis
Video contradicts DHS claim: ICU nurse Alex Pretti shot by feds in Minneapolis
Witness footage challenges official DHS account, showing Pretti with a phone, not a gun, amid the Minneapolis shooting.
On January 24, federal officers conducted a targeted operation in Minneapolis involving a man wanted for violent assault. The operation ended with the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was 37. The Department of Homeland Security said the suspect approached officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and violently resisted as they attempted to disarm him, prompting officers to fire defensive shots. The account paints a picture of a confrontation that escalated quickly in the early morning light.
Witness videos circulating online call that account into question. Footage verified by a major newspaper shows Pretti with his hands visible, holding a phone, not a gun, as the officers fired. The images captured by onlookers appear to contradict the DHS narrative and have fueled calls for greater transparency in the investigation.
Pretti's family described him as a kindhearted soul who wanted to make a difference in the world. They condemned the DHS account as sickening lies and urged investigators to provide clear answers about what happened that morning.
Meanwhile, a Trump official involved in border affairs faced questions about the shooting, arguing that the victims are the agents and maintaining that the suspect put himself in that situation.
The episode adds to a broader debate over federal law enforcement operations on U.S. soil and the line between necessary force and excessive violence. Protesters gathered in Minneapolis after the shooting, demanding accountability and sworn disclosures about the details of the operation and the evidence supporting the official narrative.
Media outlets and lawmakers have sought to verify the facts and to understand how video footage aligns with official statements, underscoring a broader push toward openness in cases involving use of deadly force.
