Newly Released Footage Highlights Critical Moments Before Alex Pretti Was Tragically Attacked

Newly surfaced video captures the final seconds before federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti. The footage and conflicting witness accounts about Pretti's firearm have sparked fierce controversy.

Federal immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old protester, on Saturday morning, January 24, 2026, in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Videos from multiple sources, including bystanders and media outlets, captured the chaotic confrontation, prompting heated public debate over what exactly triggered the deadly burst of gunfire.

Just after 9 a.m., video shows Pretti being tackled to the ground by a group of federal officers. As they restrained him, one officer reached into his waistband and retrieved a handgun later identified as a loaded Sig Sauer P320 9 mm semiautomatic pistol.

Seconds later, a loud crack echoed through the street, followed by at least nine more gunshots, fired at close range while Pretti lay motionless on the pavement.

He Was Disarmed, Then Shot

From multiple angles, footage captures agents shouting that Pretti had a gun just before the weapon becomes visible in one officer’s grip. In one frame, the slide on the handgun appears to move while in the agent's grip, suggesting it may have discharged unintentionally.

It remains unclear whether Pretti reached for the firearm or if the officer pulled it from his waistband. According to CNN video analysis, the agent who recovered the weapon had empty hands seconds before approaching Pretti.

Shortly after the initial shot, the agent walked away from the scene with the weapon in hand. As Pretti lay still on the ground, another officer was heard asking, "Where's the gun?" The agent responded, "I got the gun."

Witnesses Describe Chaotic Scene

Witness accounts suggest Pretti had been assisting a woman moments before the altercation. Video taken at the scene shows him helping her after she was shoved to the ground by an immigration officer, who then sprayed the pair with tear gas.

Several agents then pulled Pretti away, bringing him to the ground as he resisted on his hands and knees before being subdued. Authorities later confirmed that Pretti had a permit to legally carry the weapon.

He had been protesting the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota and was reportedly attempting to intervene as agents tried to detain the woman.

Experts Question Initial Gunshot

Experts have weighed in on the potential cause of the first shot. Rob Doar, a lawyer with the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, stated on X, "I believe it's highly likely the first shot was a negligent discharge from the agent in the grey jacket after he removed the Sig P320 from Pretti's holster while exiting the scene."

The Sig Sauer P320 has previously faced scrutiny for discharging unintentionally, a detail some believe may have played a critical role in the escalation.

Online Backlash Intensifies

The case has drawn widespread attention online, with netizens pointing to inconsistencies in the sequence of events. One person wrote, “Video confirms the handgun was secured before shots fired, raising serious questions about use-of-force justification.”

Another noted, “The gun discharged right after he pulled it out. You can see the bullet fire or hit the ground in 1 angle.” A third person added, “I think… once again, I think… the gun that was taken from the protester misfired and it set off the escalation of events.”

Federal authorities have yet to confirm which officer fired the first shot or whether disciplinary action is being considered. The investigation remains ongoing, and official statements regarding the use of force and the weapon's discharge have not yet been released.

Meanwhille, a chilling eyewitness account has emerged that could shatter the official version of events surrounding the shocking fatal shooting .

The anonymous witness, whose statement was recently filed in a lawsuit against the Trump administration, has come forward with harrowing claims that directly contradict the government's narrative, and what they revealed is deeply disturbing.

Eyewitness Says Pretti Was Helping Someone When He Was Shot

According to what the unnamed eyewitness cited in the filing, Pretti was attempting to assist a woman who had been pepper-sprayed when he was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent. The witness firmly stated, "I have read the statement from DHS about what happened and [sic] it is wrong," asserting that Pretti neither resisted nor reached for a gun.

Instead, they claimed, "The man did not approach the agents with a gun. He approached them with a camera. He was just trying to help a woman get up and [sic] they took him to the ground."

Governor Walz Blasts DHS Narrative as 'Nonsense' After Reviewing Footage

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously claimed that Pretti, whom they described as an armed man, was shot after violently resisting. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino alleged Pretti was attempting to "massacre law enforcement."

However, this account is being contested both by eyewitnesses and by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who called the DHS version "nonsense" after reviewing footage of the incident.

Pretti Was Documenting ICE Activity, Not Resisting, Witness Claims

Video evidence reportedly shows Pretti holding a cellphone — not a firearm — at the moment he was shot. One agent can be seen walking away from the scuffle with a gun in hand when the first shot was fired.

The same witness described how Pretti had been documenting the immigration enforcement activity with his phone and trying to direct traffic when tensions escalated. While the witness moved onto a sidewalk after an agent asked both them and Pretti to back up, Pretti stayed recording in the street.

Witness Describes Horrific Scene of Chaos and Gunfire

When agents threatened the use of pepper spray on nearby observers, including Pretti, he reportedly raised his hands, was sprayed again, pushed, and then tackled. He attempted to assist a woman who was pushed to the ground before multiple agents grabbed him.

"I didn't see him touch any of them — he wasn't even turned toward them. It didn't look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up. I didn't see him with a gun," the witness penned. "Four or five agents had him on the ground and [sic] they just started shooting him. They shot him so many times."

CNN reports that they have reached out to both DHS and legal representatives of the witnesses for further comment on the unfolding case.

What Justifies Pulling the Trigger?

As the debate over what actually happened on the streets of Minneapolis continues, legal experts have also weighed in on the controversy surrounding how and why Pretti was killed.

In a Q&A with CNN's Jessica Dean, CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig broke down the law governing the use of deadly force by any law enforcement officer, including federal agents.

Honig explained that the key standard is whether an officer "reasonably believed that the use of force was necessary to prevent an imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury," a "very high bar" that must be met for a shooting to be considered justifiable.

Honig also discussed the fine line between lawful protest or observation and unlawful interference with an enforcement action. She noted that while individuals are allowed to "observe and video a law enforcement operation," "standing in the way of, or interfering with, the law enforcement operation [...] is over the line."

According to Honig, in such cases, "They can be physically moved using the least amount of force necessary. They can be charged with obstruction." However, she pointed out that this "does not [...] open the door to assault or use of lethal force."

Feds Under Fire for Lack of Transparency

On the larger question of accountability and how the investigation into Pretti's death is unfolding, Honig acknowledged unusual circumstances surrounding the federal response. She stated that federal authorities have not cooperated fully with state and local officials who want to investigate the shooting, and that this lack of transparency is striking.

"And two, we've heard leading officials come out and make statements that A, appear to be false based on the video, and B, undermine any notion of there being a true, independent investigation," Honig highlighted.

She went on to say, "So they've been unclear thus far about what investigation is happening, but what's happening here is highly abnormal," underscoring growing concerns over how the case is being handled by the DHS and other federal entities.

Former U.S. President Obama Enters the Fray

As scrutiny intensifies over the federal handling of Pretti's death, the fallout has reached the highest levels of national discourse.

In a rare move, former U.S. President Barack Obama has weighed in, offering a pointed critique of the Trump administration's handling of federal law enforcement involved in the fatal incident.

Calling the incident "a heartbreaking tragedy," Obama warned that it should serve as a wake-up call to all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, highlighting that core national values are increasingly "under assault." The remarks, made on January 25, 2026, marked one of Obama's most overt criticisms of a sitting president since leaving office.

"Administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation," Obama said, referencing the chaos that erupted in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of both Pretti and Renee Good.

He accused federal agents of deploying "unprecedented tactics" meant to intimidate and harass citizens — tactics he said have now led to avoidable deaths. For weeks, growing outrage has surged nationwide following footage of masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruits and other agents operating aggressively in U.S. neighborhoods.

Obama echoed that sentiment, denouncing the federal agents' conduct as "embarrassing, lawless and cruel," quoting a former DHS top lawyer who had used those exact words to criticize such practices.

As calls for justice and transparency intensify, the death of Pretti has become more than a tragic moment — it has become a rallying cry against the unchecked use of force, and a solemn reminder of the lives lost in its wake.

At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Pretti's entire family, all his loved ones, friends, and community as they mourn such a significant loss. We hope for their healing amid their grief. RIP, dear Pretti.