MN - Alex Pretti dead after Minneapolis shooting involving immigration agents, US media report, January 24, 2026

[AppleTreeGreen]

From my friend
I think that any LE officer in this situation could have felt threatened by this guy's movements. He is clearly resisting the officers and reaching for something.

But yet the 3 protestors still comply and do not escalate the situation. They do not lunge or push back and prefer to cover their eyes rather than smack the canister filled with pepper spray is aimed towards their faces. Even as Alex is pushed towards the ground he leaves his hands up and open to as a de-escalation tactic to show he is not a threat, is not aiming to retaliate against them, even as he sees other CPB agents join his initial assailant in threatening physical harm

We want masks off and body-cameras on,"

I agree I think the body-cameras will help with transparency, which is sorely needed, and hopefully by taking the masks off, it will be easier for locals, protesters and activists to communicate with ICE agents. Maybe it was just me but I noticed sometimes I could always understand what they were saying, even with the volume loud or when they yelled, because the masks seemed to muffle their words. This step could also, as a result, increase public safety and de-escalation of tense or high-conflict situations.

IMO

Does taking a single weapon during the struggle mean he doesn't have another weapon that could be used to kill?

But that is always a risk and according to their instructors some of the disarming tactics the agency has educated them on can help mitigate these risks, save lives and de-escalate any and all violence.

armed instigator

Wouldn’t the armed instigator be the CPB agent who not only carries a gun but it is the main one initiating the aggressive or violent behavior leading up the shooting by pushing the woman into Alex’s arms before pushing both of them back towards the curb and shoving the other woman harshly against the curb and ground? At no point do we see acts of violence or harm committed by Alex or the two women before the agent begins shoving them. The agent’s attack seem both unprovoked and excessive, especially considering that no physical altercation occurred before the agent started just started shoving them and yelling louder and louder. Clearly he is enraged, perhaps disproportionately and his anger won’t be abetted. Instead of de-escalation he relentlessly shoves the protesters harder and harder and grows more aggressive despite their lack of aggressive responds back. It is like he doesn’t even see them or people anymore but rather potential punching bags he can pummel, shove and abuse to cope with his own turmoil.

I wonder if you think it's possible the officers in this case really did fear for their safety

I think it is completely understandable that they would be in fear of their safety and do not want to diminish or dismiss the danger they are facing as members of law enforcements. However, I think it is also understandable that local community members and leaders across the nation as a whole hold members of ICE to higher standards, both professional and ethical, than they would of their regular civilian because of the trust, training, education and access to power and resources we give in return. The public is allowed to demand better implementation and utilization of strategies and protocols that promote our human rights and safety, including giving us our due process, right to be free from harm and coercion and the protection of personal and public safety and property.

Also, they went in fear of their lives or safety when they shoving Alex and the other two protestors, or pinning them to the ground, blinding him with chemicals and repeatedly his head with the spray’s canister. If they were in fear of their lives or if their safety was priority they would have followed basic protocol and patted and checked Alex for any weapons on his persons long before they let their colleagues pin him to ground so that he could endure a brutal assault. Fear wasn’t even a factor until the utterance of the word gun made them realize they too now could face the consequences of their own death and disability as the man could easily retaliated for the assault by shooting at them. They thought jumping someone was more important on the job than taking precaution or inhibiting the use of excessive force to avoid retaliatory violence demonstrating how in the end CPB’s and ICE’s own incompetence will be put their safety and lives the most at risk.

That’s all just my own opinion of course or mere insight.

 

[Sarahlou]

Was that video ever confirmed as being a real deal and depicting Alex Pretti? I know there were claims BBC confirmed it's authenticity, but there is no such communicate on the BBC page. I would be careful with that vid, there is a lot of fakes in circulation.

It was in the BBC news last night. I just looked back at the footage. They said the new video "Appears to show Alex Pretti" and that a facial recognition tool suggests a 97% match.
A screenshot i took

 

[SouthAussie]

CNN town hall: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he had a “productive” conversation with border czar Tom Homan, but that he didn’t receive any assurances the immigration crackdown in the city would come to an end.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a CNN town hall tonight that the lack of cooperation from the federal government in investigating the shooting and killing of citizens “feels like a coverup.”

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/minneapolis-ice-trump-01-28-26

 

[Moll]

Was that video ever confirmed as being a real deal and depicting Alex Pretti? I know there were claims BBC confirmed it's authenticity, but there is no such communicate on the BBC page. I would be careful with that vid, there is a lot of fakes in circulation.

I can also find nothing about this on the BBC website despite various other sites claiming the video is BBC-verified. It's not mentioned in their BBC Verify thread. I wondered if they had had doubts since broadcasting it last night.

The Guardian, however, appears to confirm it.

Videos show altercation between Alex Pretti and federal officers 11 days before he was killed

Three newly discovered videos show the Minneapolis ICU nurse being tackled by federal agents in a prior confrontation

www.theguardian.com

If genuine it is background information, nothing more, IMO.

 

[kuromiiiilove]

I can also find nothing about this on the BBC website despite various other sites claiming the video is BBC-verified. It's not mentioned in their BBC Verify thread. I wondered if they had had doubts since broadcasting it last night.

The Guardian, however, appears to confirm it.

Videos show altercation between Alex Pretti and federal officers 11 days before he was killed

Three newly discovered videos show the Minneapolis ICU nurse being tackled by federal agents in a prior confrontation

www.theguardian.com

If genuine it is background information, nothing more, IMO.

Pretti’s family confirmed it is him: https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/us/video/pretti-physical-clash-11-days-before-shooting-digvid

It’s neither here nor there to me - we know Alex didn’t do this the day he died, not that it would justify his death in any way.

But IMO there’s a chance that they targeted him the day he died and ended up killing him. Just like they knew who Miramar Martinez was and had her in their database before they shot her and bragged about the number of holes in her body.

 

[Inthedetails]

I can also find nothing about this on the BBC website despite various other sites claiming the video is BBC-verified. It's not mentioned in their BBC Verify thread. I wondered if they had had doubts since broadcasting it last night.

The Guardian, however, appears to confirm it.

Videos show altercation between Alex Pretti and federal officers 11 days before he was killed

Three newly discovered videos show the Minneapolis ICU nurse being tackled by federal agents in a prior confrontation

www.theguardian.com

If genuine it is background information, nothing more, IMO.

Seems like some assert that imperfect people deserve to be killed on the streets in USA by federal agents.

That's the messaging of the smear campaign even with the claim, "I never said that." They don't need to say it to be obvious.

jmopinion

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Victim blaming on ANY other thread gets posters time outs and deletes
Why is it so blatantly allowed??

Even the administration is backtracking on this killing constituting above-board actions by these agents. It's time the focus was squarely put on the agents' behaviour only, not Alex Pretti’s. Whatever car kicking he did 11 days before is irrelevant; we can see with our own eyes that he did zero to provoke his summary street execution by CBP. Let's hear some answers from these agents. AP has nothing to answer for. Rest in peace

 

[Inthedetails]

This is about Maine but I think the disastereous surge in Minnesota might have influenced the decision to call off "enhanced operations" in Maine. imo.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ended its enhanced operations in Maine, its Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins said on Thursday, citing a conversation with the head of the Department of Homeland Security.

"I can report that Secretary (Kristi) Noem has informed me that ICE has ended its enhanced activities in the State of Maine. There are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here," Collins wrote in a post on X, adding that ICE and Customs and Border Patrol would continue normal operations.

ICE ends enhanced enforcement activities in Maine, US senator says

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ended its enhanced operations in Maine, its Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins said on Thursday, citing a conversation with the head of the Department of Homeland Security.

www.reuters.com

 

[Inthedetails]

[Stephen] Miller said the White House told DHS to use extra CBP personnel to keep protesters away from fugitive apprehension operations, saying the president’s team is “evaluating why the CBP team may not have been following that protocol.” He also said the initial assessment that Pretti was brandishing a weapon and engaging in “domestic terrorism,” just before he was shot was “based on reports from CBP on the ground.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/28/trump-officials-trade-blame-as-political-pressure-mounts-over-minneapolis-00754139

 

[Strangeworld]

This is a really interesting read relating to deindividuation, anonymity and ICE. It was written back in December so before Alex' death.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/darwins-subterranean-world/202512/the-dangerous-anonymity-of-ice

Key points​

• From an evolutionary psychological perspective, the fact that ICE agents often wear masks is concerning.
• Hiding people's identities, or creating a state of "deindividuation," famously breeds antisocial behavior.
• Perhaps the practice of having ICE agents hide their identities needs to be reconsidered.

 

[kuromiiiilove]

This is a really interesting read relating to deindividuation, anonymity and ICE. It was written back in December so before Alex' death.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/darwins-subterranean-world/202512/the-dangerous-anonymity-of-ice

Key points​

• From an evolutionary psychological perspective, the fact that ICE agents often wear masks is concerning.
• Hiding people's identities, or creating a state of "deindividuation," famously breeds antisocial behavior.
• Perhaps the practice of having ICE agents hide their identities needs to be reconsidered.

I 100% think that a lot of their bad behavior will end should they not be allowed to mask.

 

[statt#1]

What do you think their perception was?

The posted link sheds light on the subject and just how detailed it is. I look at this particular case for purposes of this thread in terms of whether the shooting was justified or not, and in my opinion I feel it's likely that the Agents in this case will not be convicted of murder, or any other serious charge.

"must consider all the relevant circumstances, including the facts and events leading up to the climactic moment," in assessing the reasonableness of an officer's use of force (including deadly force)."

Barnes v. Felix is a recent court case and also discussed at the .gov link.

Some recent reports show the victim having been involved in another previous altercation. This too, and other facts, may play into a courts analysis of the totality of the situation.

It's my opinion Mr. Pretti made a few poor judgement decisions, indeed, he has rights afforded by the Constitution, however, the entire situation from a justified use of force analysis in my opinion is much deeper than the event seen in hindsight in the videos.

Videos Show Alex Pretti in Confrontation With Agents 11 Days Before His Death

More than a week before federal agents killed Mr. Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse, different agents pushed him to the ground after he spit at them and broke a taillight on their S.U.V.

www.nytimes.com

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11336#:~:text=On%20May%2015%2C%202025%2C%20the,and%20provides%20considerations%20for%20Congress.

 

[SouthAussie]

"The news conference is expected to begin in the next few minutes, with 'border tsar' Tom Homan set to give an update in Minneapolis."

Just a reminder: I posted and linked back in the thread about Tom Homan saying the messaging has been all wrong, that they needed to change the messaging.

Trump's border tsar to speak in Minneapolis as he takes over city's immigration crackdown

Tom Homan has been deployed after two people were shot dead by federal agents in the city in less than a month.

www.bbc.com

 

[Inthedetails]

"The news conference is expected to begin in the next few minutes, with 'border tsar' Tom Homan set to give an update in Minneapolis."

Just a reminder: I posted back in the thread about Tom Homan saying the messaging has been all wrong, that they needed to change the messaging.

Trump's border tsar to speak in Minneapolis as he takes over city's immigration crackdown

Tom Homan has been deployed after two people were shot dead by federal agents in the city in less than a month.

www.bbc.com

Link to presser on youtube:

 

[Strangeworld]

The posted link sheds light on the subject and just how detailed it is. I look at this particular case for purposes of this thread in terms of whether the shooting was justified or not, and in my opinion I feel it's likely that the Agents in this case will not be convicted of murder, or any other serious charge.

"must consider all the relevant circumstances, including the facts and events leading up to the climactic moment," in assessing the reasonableness of an officer's use of force (including deadly force)."

Barnes v. Felix is a recent court case and also discussed at the .gov link.

Some recent reports show the victim having been involved in another previous altercation. This too, and other facts, may play into a courts analysis of the totality of the situation.

It's my opinion Mr. Pretti made a few poor judgement decisions, indeed, he has rights afforded by the Constitution, however, the entire situation from a justified use of force analysis in my opinion is much deeper than the event seen in hindsight in the videos.

Videos Show Alex Pretti in Confrontation With Agents 11 Days Before His Death

More than a week before federal agents killed Mr. Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse, different agents pushed him to the ground after he spit at them and broke a taillight on their S.U.V.

www.nytimes.com

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11336#:~:text=On%20May%2015%2C%202025%2C%20the,and%20provides%20considerations%20for%20Congress.

I actually think they will be convicted of serious charges, even if only as scapegoats. We have seen how the legal system has been manipulated by Trump and his government, and Trump is very concerned about perceptions right now. He isn't liking what he is seeing in the citizen/voter response. He will do whatever he can to preserve or rebuild his fan base, and he's already upset the NRA. I can see these ICE agents getting the book thrown at them to appease the unrest directed at Trump

 

[Inthedetails]

Link to presser on youtube:

It's starting now. 7:20am local time!

 

[Inthedetails]

Presser: He got a call from president on Monday morning. He arrived in the city that evening.

eta: I was planning to transcribe the presser for the thread but can't do it.

 

[LibraStarr]

In the PC, Homan is talking as if MN DOC just agreed to work with ICE from detention centers but the DOC already does. They even investigated and found the DHS is classifying these transfers as part of their operation which is not true.

Radware Page

Loader page.

mn.gov

"DOC quickly identified 68 cases in which individuals were lawfully transferred from Minnesota Department of Corrections custody directly to ICE, only for DHS officials to falsely claim these same individuals were “arrested” by waves of federal agents deployed into Minnesota communities."

 

[SouthAussie]

Presser:

Main thrust seems to be that ICE will keep the streets safe, if everyone cooperates.

ICE and CBP are working on a plan to draw down amount of ICE people in Minneapolis.
Nothing is perfect, improvements should and will be made internally.

They will conduct targeted operations. And will improve upon that. Priority on public safety threats.

Something about compassion ... and how he will hold agents to that standard.

When the rhetoric dies down, they will pull more agents out. In other words "shut up" and we will keep less agents here. He admits that protests are legal.

 

[JennieM]

Homan pledges to stay in Minneapolis until 'problem gone'​

Homan begins his update by saying he's been given talking points which he will read out, as he doesn't like reading speeches but doesn't want to miss anything.

He says he was called by the president on Monday and was asked to deploy. He's been on the ground for fewer than three full days.

Homan tells journalists he will stay until the "problem is gone" and they've already made a "lot of progress".

Focus is on removing 'threats from the community', says Trump's border tsar​

Homan says his task is to "regain law and order" in the city and work to "remove threats from the community".

He says President Trump has promised the American people, including Minnesota residents, that he would make their communities safe.

Homan adds that he is focused on identifying and removing immigrants that "pose a public safety threat and a national security threat".

He has met with Governor Tim Walz and local businesses and law enforcement, he says, and will continue a dialogue with each of them.

Focus is on removing 'threats from the community', says Trump's border tsar​

Homan says his task is to "regain law and order" in the city and work to "remove threats from the community".

He says President Trump has promised the American people, including Minnesota residents, that he would make their communities safe.

Homan adds that he is focused on identifying and removing immigrants that "pose a public safety threat and a national security threat".

He has met with Governor Tim Walz and local businesses and law enforcement, he says, and will continue a dialogue with each of them.

Tom Homan: Watch Trump's border tsar speak in Minneapolis as he takes over immigration crackdown

Tom Homan has been deployed after two people were shot dead by federal agents in the city in less than a month.

www.bbc.co.uk