Witness Reveals What Happened Before Alex Pretti's Tragic Incident

The revelation by the witness comes amid continuous updates on the devastating shooting, including expert conversations dissecting the rules of law enforcement conduct.

A chilling eyewitness account has emerged that could shatter the official version of events surrounding the shocking fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti, who was gunned down by a federal agent in the middle of a Minneapolis protest.

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.

Obama Lashes Out at Federal Agents over 'Heartbreaking Tragedy'

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.

He went further, accusing the current administration of issuing "public explanations for the shootings of Mr. Pretti and Renee Good that aren't informed by any serious investigation — and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence."

Mounting Fury and Plea for Peace

In a plea for de-escalation, Obama urged officials to work constructively with Minnesota Governor Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and local law enforcement to avoid further violence and restore accountability.

"This has to stop," he asserted, warning that without action, more American lives could be put at risk.

The former president concluded his statement by expressing support for peaceful protests across the country, dubbing them a "timely reminder" of the public's power to challenge injustice and demand transparency and accountability from their government.

Family of Slain Nurse Speaks Out

While former President Obama's remarks amplified growing national outrage over the killing, it is the voice of Pretti's heartbroken family that has added a profoundly human dimension to the tragedy.

In their first public statement since the on-camera shooting, the family of the late 37-year-old ICU nurse described themselves as both "heartbroken and angry," condemning what they called a campaign of misinformation surrounding his death.

"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting," they said. "Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs." Pretti was killed during an ICE operation in Minneapolis, where he had reportedly joined a protest against ICE's presence.

Caught on Camera: Harrowing Final Moments Captured in Graphic Footage

Footage from the scene shows Pretti attempting to shield a woman who had been shoved to the ground by officers. With his phone in hand and his left arm raised in what appears to be a protective gesture, Pretti was then forcibly separated from the woman, pepper-sprayed, and ultimately subdued by six agents.

The graphic video depicts Pretti struggling on all fours under the weight of several officers. One ICE agent is then seen reaching for his holstered firearm. Moments later, a barrage of gunfire erupts — killing him instantly.

Family Honors a Life of Service and Sacrifice

Pretti's family painted a portrait of a devoted son, friend, and public servant who had committed his life to helping others.

"Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital," the statement reads.

Calling him a "hero," the family insisted that his final moments embodied the values he lived by. "Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman."

While the DHS claimed that Pretti was armed with a nine mm handgun and that agents fired in self-defense, his family adamantly rejected that account, calling it a distortion of the truth.

"He has his phone in his right hand and [sic] his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down — all while being pepper-sprayed," they clarified.

Demanding accountability and public awareness, the family closed their statement with an emotional plea, "Please get the truth out about our son." They emphasized that above all, he was a "good man."

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.