2 federal agents fired guns during deadly Alex Pretti shooting, DHS tells Congress
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Two federal officers fired Glock pistols during the deadly shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official said.
Citing a notification sent to Congress, The Associated Press confirmed the news on Tuesday, which marked a few days after Pretti's death.
The media outlet reported that investigators with CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility made the determination after a preliminary review of body-worn camera video and agency documentation. The agency is required to report in-custody and certain other deaths involving its agents and officers to Congress.
The official said officers tried to take Pretti into custody and he resisted, leading to a struggle. An agent yelled, "He's got a gun!" multiple times, the official said, with a Border Patrol agent and a Customs and Border Protection officer both firing their weapons.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Pretti was fatally shot on Saturday after he approached CBP officers while carrying a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and two magazines. Officials did not say whether the weapon was brandished.
"The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted," DHS wrote on X.
"Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene," DHS added.
Gov. Tim Walz criticized DHS for sharing the information, as well as a photo of a gun, on social media without a more thorough investigation. He said the information was unrelated to the deadly shooting.
"It's nonsense, people," he said. "It's nonsense and it's lies."
According to CNN, Pretti suffered a broken rib during a previous encounter with federal agents. The media outlet said the incident happened a week before the shooting.
"The earlier incident started when he stopped his car after observing ICE agents chasing what he described as a family on foot, and began shouting and blowing his whistle, according to a source who asked not to be named out of fear of retribution," CNN reported on Tuesday.
CNN also reported that Pretti had told the source "five agents tackled him and one leaned on his back," which allegedly led to the broken bone. The media outlet said the agents released him at the scene.
Protesters started gathering in the Twin Cities since January 7 after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
The agent, who has been identified as Jonathan Ross, fired his gun after Good allegedly tried to ram him and other officers with her SUV. Ross reportedly suffered internal bleeding when he was hit by her vehicle.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
