A tense video has surfaced showing Alex Pretti in a heated clash with federal agents, just days before his tragic death at the hands of law enforcement.
Newly released footage captures Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, confronting uniformed immigration agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 13, roughly 11 days before he was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent on Jan. 24, 2026. In the video, Pretti is seen yelling, spitting toward officers, and kicking a federal vehicle’s taillight, leading to at least one agent pushing him down. Federal officials initially described the later fatal encounter as involving a threat, though video evidence from multiple outlets showed Pretti holding a cellphone, not a firearm, before agents forced him to the ground and shots were fired.
The incident has sparked intense debate, with many questioning the actions of both Pretti and federal authorities in these encounters.
According to Breitbart, in the Jan. 13 footage, Pretti’s winter coat slips off during the scuffle, revealing what looks like a handgun in his waistband. Notably, the video does not show him reaching for or drawing the weapon, and it remains unclear if agents noticed it at the time. As a licensed concealed-carry gun owner, Pretti had the legal right to carry, but such a visible display during a confrontation muddies the waters of responsibility.
Pretti, an ICU nurse by profession, clearly had a contentious interaction with immigration agents on Jan. 13. While his reported profanities and physical actions like kicking a taillight don’t justify excessive force, they do raise questions about escalating tensions. Federal overreach, if proven, can’t be excused by a citizen’s bad behavior.
Fast forward to Jan. 24, 2026, and Pretti’s story ends in tragedy during a separate enforcement operation. The fact that he was holding a cellphone, not a gun, in those final moments—according to reviewed footage—casts doubt on the initial federal claim of a threat. If agents misjudged the situation, accountability must follow, no matter the earlier incident.
Agents were recorded forcing Pretti to the ground before firing shots on Jan. 24. That level of physical escalation demands a clear explanation from law enforcement. Without it, public trust in federal operations takes a serious hit.
The Department of Justice has stepped in with a federal civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death. Additionally, a Minnesota court issued a temporary restraining order to stop federal authorities from tampering with or destroying evidence related to the shooting. These steps signal the gravity of the situation and the need for transparency.
Pretti’s status as a licensed gun owner highlights a broader tension between Second Amendment rights and law enforcement protocols. If agents didn’t see the weapon on Jan. 13, as remains unclear, their reaction on Jan. 24 could suggest a dangerous pattern of assumption over evidence. Policies must protect both citizens and officers without knee-jerk responses.
The fatal encounter’s discrepancy—cellphone versus firearm—underscores why video evidence is critical in these cases. Federal officials’ initial narrative of a threat doesn’t hold up under scrutiny if the footage tells a different story. Truth, not spin, should guide these investigations.
Public safety can’t be ensured if trust between citizens and federal agents erodes. Overly aggressive enforcement tactics, especially in immigration operations, often fuel resentment rather than solutions. A balanced approach respecting rights while maintaining order is non-negotiable.
The Jan. 13 video sets a troubling backdrop for Pretti’s death 11 days later. Both sides—Pretti’s actions and the agents’ responses—deserve scrutiny without rushing to judgment. Justice hinges on getting the full picture, not just snippets of footage.
Minnesota’s court order to preserve evidence is a wise move. Tampering or loss of critical material would only deepen suspicions of a cover-up. Every detail must be safeguarded for a fair probe. Ultimately, Pretti’s death as an ICU nurse and law-abiding gun owner raises hard questions about federal power in local settings. Immigration enforcement shouldn’t mean trampling on individual protections. Reform, if needed, must prioritize clarity over unchecked authority.
The Department of Justice probe offers hope for answers, but only if it’s thorough and unbiased. Families, communities, and officers alike deserve to know where the system failed. Without that, these tragedies will repeat, and public faith will keep crumbling.