Minneapolis Shooting: Video Shows Nurse Alex Pretti Aiding Bystander Before Fatal Federal Agent Encounter
State officials in Minnesota have accused federal agents of obstructing their access to a crime scene following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old ICU nurse in Minneapolis. The victim, identified as Alex Pretti, was killed by federal officers during an immigration enforcement operation on Saturday morning, with newly emerged video footage appearing to contradict official accounts of the incident.
Contradictory Evidence Emerges
Federal officials have claimed that Pretti was attempting to assassinate officers with a pistol, yet publicly available video evidence tells a different story. Multiple angles of the encounter show Pretti holding a mobile phone rather than a weapon, with one sequence capturing him moving to assist a bystander who had been pushed to the ground by federal agents.
Video analysis reveals Pretti approaching agents while filming with his phone, then moving to help a person wearing a brown jacket and green skirt who had been shoved by an officer. As Pretti and the individual embrace, an officer pushes Pretti in the chest, causing both to fall backward. At least seven officers then surround Pretti, with one appearing to strike him in the chest while holding a canister.
The Fatal Encounter
Footage shows officers wrestling Pretti to the ground, with one agent visible unholstering his weapon. Shots ring out while officers are still struggling with Pretti, who collapses immediately. Witnesses report hearing at least ten shots fired within five seconds, with Pretti lying motionless on the frozen street as officers back away.
A woman filming from the sidewalk screams "what the f*** did you just do?" while another voice from behind a storefront window can be heard saying "Not again. Are you f***ing kidding me? That guy's dead."
Official Responses and Accusations
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit, while the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension stated they were denied access to the crime scene by federal agents. State officials have formally accused federal authorities of obstructing their investigation, creating significant tension between local and federal law enforcement agencies.
White House officials have offered conflicting narratives, with Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller describing Pretti as a "would-be assassin" without providing supporting evidence. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma called Pretti a "deranged individual" during a Fox News interview, blaming local Democratic leaders for creating what he termed a tense political climate.
Victim's Background and Community Reaction
Alex Pretti worked as an intensive care unit nurse and was listed as a "junior scientist" at the University of Minnesota Medical School on his LinkedIn profile. He held an active nursing license valid through March 2026 and had no criminal convictions according to available records.
His father, Michael Pretti, released a statement saying: "He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset. He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests."
Broader Context and Legal Challenges
This incident marks the second fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protester in less than three weeks, following the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good earlier this month. Both shootings occurred during what local officials describe as a federal "occupation" of the city as part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Court filings in an ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration's immigration tactics have revealed shocking details about the shooting's aftermath. One declaration from a doctor who lived nearby claims they were initially barred from rendering first aid to Pretti, eventually being allowed through to find three bullet wounds in his back. The physician alleges that agents spent time counting bullet wounds rather than checking for a pulse.
The Minnesota National Guard has been deployed to assist local police at the direction of Governor Tim Walz, with troops sent to both the shooting site and a federal building where daily confrontations have occurred between officers and demonstrators.
Political Fallout and Public Outcry
Former Trump administration lawyer John Mitnick, who served as DHS general counsel, called for Trump's impeachment in a social media post, writing: "I am enraged and embarrassed by DHS's lawlessness, fascism, and cruelty. Impeach and remove Trump—now."
Despite dangerously cold temperatures reaching -6 degrees Fahrenheit (-21 Celsius), protesters gathered at the shooting scene, chanting "ICE out now" and "Observing ICE is not a crime." Demonstrators dragged garbage dumpsters to block streets while screaming profanities at federal officers, who responded mockingly in some instances.
Democratic leaders in Minnesota have called for federal immigration officers to leave the state, while the legal battle continues over use of force restrictions on federal agents operating within Minnesota's borders.
