Federal Agents Identified in Fatal Minneapolis Shooting of Alex Pretti
Two federal agents have reportedly been identified as the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to documents obtained by ProPublica. The agents are named as Jesus Ochoa, a 43-year-old border patrol agent, and Raymundo Gutierrez, a 35-year-old officer with Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Details of the Shooting and Operation
Records indicate that Ochoa and Gutierrez discharged their weapons during a confrontation last weekend, resulting in the death of Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. At the time of the incident, both agents were participating in Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement initiative launched in December that deployed numerous armed, masked agents throughout Minneapolis as part of a citywide sweep.
The shooting has ignited widespread demonstrations and renewed calls for criminal inquiries into federal immigration enforcement actions. Immediately following Pretti's killing, the Trump administration was accused of pushing false claims about the shooting, adding to the controversy.
Lack of Transparency and Growing Scrutiny
CBP, the agency employing both men, has declined to publicly name the agents involved and has released minimal additional information about the shooting. This lack of transparency has drawn heightened scrutiny, particularly as the incident occurred just days after another immigration agent shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and protester in Minneapolis.
Earlier this week, CBP sent a notice to select members of Congress confirming that two agents fired Glock pistols during the encounter that led to Pretti's death, though the notice omitted their names. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, stated through a spokesperson that the agents were placed on leave following the shooting.
National Debate and Investigations
Pretti's death and the secrecy surrounding the agents' identities have unfolded amid a growing national debate over Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies. Enforcement actions in cities nationwide have included violent encounters involving both immigrants and US citizens, carried out by agents who are controversially permitted to conceal their identities with masks.
Lawmakers from both parties have urged a full and transparent investigation into the killing. After days of protests and pressure from lawmakers, the Justice Department announced on Friday that its civil rights division had opened an investigation into the matter.
Background of the Agents
Records reportedly show that Ochoa joined CBP in 2018 as a border patrol agent, while Gutierrez began working for the agency in 2014. Gutierrez serves in CBP's office of field operations and is part of a special response team that handles high-risk missions similar to those carried out by police SWAT units. Both men are from south Texas.
The incident has highlighted ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement and transparency, with community members and officials demanding accountability and justice in the wake of Pretti's death.
