Fox News contributor Joe Concha has made false allegations about the recent shooting death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, claiming the victim "literally" pulled a gun on immigration enforcement officers. These assertions directly contradict multiple video recordings and eyewitness accounts that have emerged following the tragic incident.
False Claims Amid Political Tensions
During a weekend broadcast of Fox News' panel program The Big Weekend Show, Concha launched a tirade against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of "gaslighting" the public about the circumstances surrounding Pretti's death. The 37-year-old ICU nurse was shot ten times by US Border Patrol agents while serving as an observer during an immigration enforcement operation.
Concha insisted that Pretti had drawn a firearm on officers, stating: "And now, here, literally a guy pulled a gun on an ICE officer. He defends himself and they say, 'Oh no, he was only attacked at this point.'" These comments came as Fox News hosts and guests broadly defended the Trump administration's response to the shooting.
Evidence Contradicts Official Narrative
Multiple investigations by major news organisations including the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN and Wall Street Journal have revealed a different sequence of events. Video analysis shows Pretti did not have a firearm in his hands during his interaction with officers, nor was he reaching for one.
The footage reveals that at least six agents tackled Pretti to the ground after pepper-spraying him. He was legally permitted to carry the weapon that was later removed from his holster by an agent. Only after this removal did an officer shoot Pretti from behind, followed by approximately ten additional shots as the nurse lay prone on the ground.
Political Reactions and Family Response
Governor Walz and Mayor Frey have both described the shooting as "sickening" and called for President Donald Trump to end immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. Frey stated he witnessed "more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents, shooting him to death" during a press conference shortly after the incident.
Pretti's parents released an emotional statement over the weekend, saying: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs."
Pattern of Controversial Reporting
Concha's comments follow a similar pattern seen earlier this month following the killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer. Fox News personalities adopted the administration's narrative in that case too, despite contradictory evidence. In the Good incident, Trump officials claimed the officer was "viciously run over," though video showed only light contact.
During his weekend remarks, Concha referenced the Good case, incorrectly stating that the officer suffered "internal bleeding" despite serious questions about the sourcing of that claim.
Internal Dissent at Fox News
Interestingly, some voices within Fox News have begun to question the official narrative. Correspondent Bill Melugin reported that Department of Homeland Security staffers have grown "increasingly uneasy and frustrated" with claims being made by officials that are easily contradicted by video evidence.
Melugin added: "These sources say this messaging from DHS officials has been catastrophic from a PR and morale perspective, as it is eroding trust and credibility." During a Monday morning Fox & Friends interview, host Griff Jenkins pressed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about whether colleagues had gone "too far" in describing Pretti's actions as "domestic terrorism."
Broader Network Commentary
Concha was not alone in his criticism of Pretti over the weekend. Fox & Friends Weekend host Charlie Hurt suggested that "only one person could have prevented this from happening, and it's Alex Pretti," adding that he "should not have been there." Other network commentators falsely claimed Pretti drew his gun on agents and that officers "could have prevented a major mass shooting" of law enforcement.
The incident continues to generate significant controversy as conflicting narratives emerge about what exactly occurred during the fatal encounter between Pretti and immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis.
