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

[Mo Thuairim]

Minneapolis ICE observers keep showing up despite risk of arrest and violence

... The killing of Alex Pretti by a federal officer on Saturday, less than three weeks after the killing of Renee Good, brought heightened attention to the brutality observers and bystanders are facing in Minneapolis as they witness and document immigration enforcement. Volunteer observers told the Guardian they have been subjected to violence since the beginning of Operation Metro Surge in early December.

Observers who had been detained by federal agents and released, many without charges, told the Guardian they were denied access to medical care, phone calls and lawyers.

Still, even after federal agents killed two bystanders in Minneapolis, Sigüenza said he was determined to keep observing and recording the federal agents’ actions.

“If we don’t document and film federal agents, then they can shoot you 10 times and then say that you’re brandishing a firearm and it ends there,” he said. The fact that bystanders and community members were able to capture the agents who shot Good and Pretti, and present evidence to refute the Trump administration’s claims about those incidents, he said, speaks to the power of bearing witness.

“There will be absolutely no accountability unless people are documenting,” he said...

Minneapolis ICE observers keep showing up despite risk of arrest and violence

Bystanders say they are determined to keep recording federal agents’ actions: ‘There will be absolutely no accountability unless people are documenting’

www.theguardian.com

 

[tlcya]

I don’t believe the autopsy results are out. I will also be curious about them. I personally hear 12 shots when I re-watch the video - there are a lot towards the end all at once (probably from the fact that 2 officers were shooting) that make it hard to count but that’s what I counted. To me; having 5 wounds vs 10 really doesn’t change the fact that they shot a man who was prone on the ground with his hands flat and who had been disarmed at that point.

I thought I heard 11 shots but most news organizations are saying 10 so I am thinking I was wrong in my count. And I agree with @CSIDreamer I am very interested in the autopsy information and exactly how many bullet wounds AP had

 

[otto]

Hey Everyone,

A friend of mine shared his thoughts with me and gave me permission to post them here. His perspective is different from what most people in this thread believe

I’m posting this because I think it’s important to understand how people think who strongly disagree with each other. I’d like to hear your responses to his views and how you would address his arguments.

As always, please respond respectfully and thoughtfully. This is a good opportunity to show that people can disagree passionately and still have a productive, civil conversation.

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. Did someone shout "gun" at some point? If so it would heighten the fear among the officers. Did the officers who fired at him know that another officer had taken a weapon from him? I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't from watching that confusing struggle. Does taking a single weapon during the struggle mean he doesn't have another weapon that could be used to kill? Of course not

So it's boils down to did the actions of the armed instigator cause these officers to fear for their lives or the safety of others. If it did then the shooting is legally justified

I wonder if you think it's possible the officers in this case really did fear for their safety during this encounter with the armed protester.

Tricia again. I would love to see your replies to my friend's message.

Some will go down the path of questioning the actions that occurred leading up to the shooting, others will take the perspective that it doesn't matter what happened prior to the shooting because there was no justification under any circumstances. From there, the great divide begins.

Two groups in conflict. Rigid defence of the choice made at the outset. No benefit of the doubt. No human factor. A micro-community reflecting the national community.

If we want to understand events prior to the shooting, the question is whether Pretti was an observer, or whether he had a history of antagonizing or interfering with federal officers. Could he be perceived as a threat?

Two interpretations of the same event: he posed no threat, he kicked out the tail light of a federal officer vehicle that was leaving the scene. What were Pretti and the officers experiencing in that moment?

Alternatively, we could ignore everything prior to the shooting and conclude that when an observer damages federal officer property, or when an officer says "gun", no one should react. Which results in a safer community?

"A week before Alex was shot and killed in the street—though he posed no threat to anyone—he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents," the Pretti family's attorney
...

The footage shows Pretti yelling at the officers and kicking out a car's taillight. The officers then exit the car and wrestle Pretti to the ground. The footage was filmed on January 13, 11 days before his death.
...

At one point, when Pretti turns around, something resembling a pistol can be seen tucked into his waistband. This was also visible in the footage from the day he was shot.

During the confrontation between Pretti and the officers, bystanders can be seen shouting, honking their horns, and filming with their phones. To keep the bystanders at bay, the officers used tear gas, among other things."​

see video:

Beelden opgedoken van eerdere confrontatie tussen Alex Pretti en agenten, dagen voor dood

Op de beelden is te zien hoe Pretti schreeuwt naar de agenten en een achterlicht van een auto kapot trapt.

nos.nl

 

[Cryptic]

Who do you think are the ‘real brains’ behind these protests?

I don't think all are some shadowy group financed by say, the Soros fund

Rather, most are a mixed crew:

1- Some may of been involved in other left wing oriented protests over years. As this is their second, or third campaign, they are seen as being "senior" in the movement.

2- Others are charismatic individuals who got involved in this cause early, then put in the extra time and effort into mobilizing others.

In either case, I don't think the leaders personally carry guns to protests and start provoking officers (that is where brains come into play). I would like to know how many leaders personally even try to block streets with their cars.

 

[keek]

Armed officers should have training in what to do when they shoot someone.

Shooting someone is not done with the primary intention of killing them. It is to immediately halt a potentially deadly attack. It likely will but death is not the immediate intention.

To these guys it was obviously. IMO

 

[Rolypolyoly]

My bet is that if I arm myself, spit at, then kick out the tail light of the next occupied police cruiser I see, the police inside may be a little more than annoyed. They might even view me as a threat. They might even think that I am seeking out a confrontation.

And yet they still wouldnt be justified in killing you because of it!.

None of that matters though, one because we clearly see that those officers specifically managed not to kill him, and two, because that was a different time and place and has no bearing on what happened on Saturday when we see very clearly that Alex didnt exhibit any of that previous behavior.

As an aside, not a justification as I dont agree with the spitting and kicking tail lights, we have no idea what preceded that incident to make AP so angry.

Again though, that doesnt matter because he didnt get killed for it then, and he shouldn't have been killed on Saturday.

 

[Jade]

I just don't understand why the ohhh so educated, thoughtful, deliberate and accomplished professional chose to legally arm himself, then chose to confront and provoke officers by spitting at them and damaging their property.

In the end, kicking out the tail lights of occupied law enforcement vehicles while armed does not seem to be very well thought out. It was, however, very deliberate though.

My guess is that Pretti, like a lot of other humans, including myself, was not so sublimely thoughtful and accomplished all of the time.

Maybe on some occasions when this human was not so thoughtful, he decided to seek out confrontations?

I stand by that Mr. Pretti took exceptional action on behalf of others with thought and deliberation, imo.

Seething disdain that <modsnip: Removed commentary re physical appearance> carried a gun and has the testosterone that matches the antics of the ICE agents?

So isn’t he like then those fully armed deliberately marching to then over whelming security violently and crashing into the symbol of democracy the Nation’s historic Capital while legislator was in session destroying the place, and setting up a gallows that are so "loved" and completely pardoned?

How dare AP not be bullied or intimated by a masked armed mob shoving women to the ground and terrorizing his community.

So what if AP was angry and finds ICE tactics unfair and did what he did it’s his choice, his life.


<modsnip>


all imo

 

[deadlyaloeplant]

Trump border czar Tom Homan shared details during a press conference about his conversations with Minnesota officials, saying state Attorney General Keith Ellison told him county jails “may notify ICE of the release dates” of “criminal public safety risks” so ICE can take them into custody.

Have these "safety risks" committed any crime after they are released? Isn't it a bit Minority Report to arrest them before they have? Just wondering.

 

[Friday Fan]

now
ICE agents have been instructed not to engage with “agitators” following the arrival of Tom Homan amid the fallout after federal agents shot two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, Reuters reports.

The new orders instruct agents to focus on “targeted enforcement,” as Homan described in a press conference this morning, while refraining from random seizures in street stops in Minneapolis.

“DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR ENGAGE WITH AGITATORS,” said an email disseminated by a top ICE official. “It serves no purpose other than inflaming the situation. No one is going to convince the other. The only communication should be the officers issuing commands.”

ICE officers will receive megaphones so that they can issue commands to the public and “need to verbalize every step of the arrest process”, Reuters reported.

Trump’s border chief vows ‘improvements’ for ICE operations but doesn’t mention fatal shootings of US citizens – live

Border czar Tom Homan in Minneapolis says ‘no agency is perfect’ and acknowledges improvements that need to be made to federal immigration enforcement

www.theguardian.com

As they shouldn't!!

 

[Jade]

Very true. I still would not want any of my loved ones going deliberate ala Pretti at a protest. Such deliberate actions might place them at risk.

I have taken part in a yearly protest- well, unarmed and not kicking out tail lights of police vehicles. Looking for trouble is usually not productive in the long run. jmo

He died doing it but Alex Pretti brought about change and recognition of the ICE atrocities.

Somebody was going to have to do it we can't count on the Senate to do anything.

God bless him.


all imo

 

[rogue ant]

now
ICE agents have been instructed not to engage with “agitators” following the arrival of Tom Homan amid the fallout after federal agents shot two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, Reuters reports.

The new orders instruct agents to focus on “targeted enforcement,” as Homan described in a press conference this morning, while refraining from random seizures in street stops in Minneapolis.

“DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR ENGAGE WITH AGITATORS,” said an email disseminated by a top ICE official. “It serves no purpose other than inflaming the situation. No one is going to convince the other. The only communication should be the officers issuing commands.”

ICE officers will receive megaphones so that they can issue commands to the public and “need to verbalize every step of the arrest process”, Reuters reported.

Trump’s border chief vows ‘improvements’ for ICE operations but doesn’t mention fatal shootings of US citizens – live

Border czar Tom Homan in Minneapolis says ‘no agency is perfect’ and acknowledges improvements that need to be made to federal immigration enforcement

www.theguardian.com

I find it ironic that Homan is supposed to de-escalate but is out there labelling legitimate protestors "agitators". Dude. Name-calling is not a good look for a "Czar".

 

[Friday Fan]

Is the prior "incident" you are referring to the one <modsnip: Removed totally unnecessary snark about a victim > armed with a pistol spitting at officers and breaking the tail light on one of their vehicles?

Armed with a pistol and kicking out tali lights may well have put him on a watch list. Thinking that if I did something similar with local police, I would be on a watch list. Then factor in that he was wearing similar clothes on both incidents.

<modsnip>

I still currently doubt the over need to shoot him.... but my sympathy for him if fading fast.

There's a difference between a "watch list" and an "execution list".

 

[Rolypolyoly]

I find it ironic that Homan is supposed to de-escalate but is out there labelling legitimate protestors "agitators". Dude. Name-calling is not a good look for a "Czar".

But it works so well for those above him

 

[tlcya]

now
ICE agents have been instructed not to engage with “agitators” following the arrival of Tom Homan amid the fallout after federal agents shot two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, Reuters reports.

The new orders instruct agents to focus on “targeted enforcement,” as Homan described in a press conference this morning, while refraining from random seizures in street stops in Minneapolis.

“DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR ENGAGE WITH AGITATORS,” said an email disseminated by a top ICE official. “It serves no purpose other than inflaming the situation. No one is going to convince the other. The only communication should be the officers issuing commands.”

ICE officers will receive megaphones so that they can issue commands to the public and “need to verbalize every step of the arrest process”, Reuters reported.

Trump’s border chief vows ‘improvements’ for ICE operations but doesn’t mention fatal shootings of US citizens – live

Border czar Tom Homan in Minneapolis says ‘no agency is perfect’ and acknowledges improvements that need to be made to federal immigration enforcement

www.theguardian.com

Weird that this needs to be spelled out, almost as if their orders before being turned out into the streets of MN did not include these instructions.

I wish we knew with specificity what agents orders were prior to American citizens being shot to death and the resulting fallout in the form of public opinion causing these "new" orders to be issued. JMO Also noting the continued use of the word agitators.

 

[tlcya]

There's a difference between a "watch list" and an "execution list".

"allegedly"

 

[Friday Fan]

My bet is that if I arm myself, spit at, then kick out the tail light of the next occupied police cruiser I see, the police inside may be a little more than annoyed. They might even view me as a threat. They might even think that I am seeking out a confrontation.

Law enforcement are not street gangs.
They aren't supposed to "seek revenge".

They are supposed be above this.

 

[LAborn]

I don't think all are some shadowy group financed by say, the Soros fund

Rather, most are a mixed crew:

1- Some may of been involved in other left wing oriented protests over years. As this is their second, or third campaign, they are seen as being "senior" in the movement.

2- Others are charismatic individuals who got involved in this cause early, then put in the extra time and effort into mobilizing others.

In either case, I don't think the leaders personally carry guns to protests and start provoking officers (that is where brains come into play). I would like to know how many leaders personally even try to block streets with their cars.

This may come as a shock, but the protesters are regular, working citizens, retired, students who care about their town and their neighbors. They care about the tearing down of our democracy. When there is clearly abuse of power and stripping of our rights, people show up. At least conscientious, caring people do. Might be difficult for some to think so many are dictated by their heart and moral compass and not money.

 

[LAborn]

My bet is that if I arm myself, spit at, then kick out the tail light of the next occupied police cruiser I see, the police inside may be a little more than annoyed. They might even view me as a threat. They might even think that I am seeking out a confrontation.

Why didn't they arrest him?

 

[Summerliz03]

This just happened in the senate. I’ve been calling my (blue) representatives every day this week but it seems like a lot of people in red states have also been calling since 7 republicans changed their minds!

Edit, sorry I mistyped; it was 8 republicans!

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/29/senators-block-funding-package-amid-dhs-standoff-00754927

 

[LAborn]

This just happened in the senate. I’ve been calling my (blue) representatives every day this week but it seems like a lot of people in red states have also been calling since 7 republicans changed their minds!

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/29/senators-block-funding-package-amid-dhs-standoff-00754927

Good. Maybe it's finally a bridge too far for them.