New Video Suggests Alex Pretti Was Disarmed Before Minneapolis Border Patrol Shooting?
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| Alex Pretti disarmed before shooting? New video alleges chilling details about Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis case |
New and widely shared video footage has emerged alleging that Alex Jeffrey Pretti may have been disarmed or otherwise neutralized before Border Patrol agents fatally shot him during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026.
The dramatic visuals have ignited widespread controversy, fueled protests, and deepened questions about the federal narrative of the incident.
Alex Pretti disarmed before shooting? New video alleges chilling details about Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis case:
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Pretti, a 37-year-old registered ICU nurse with no serious criminal history, was killed amid Operation Metro Surge, a high-profile immigration enforcement deployment involving thousands of federal agents in Minnesota. Early statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that Pretti approached agents while armed with a handgun and resisted commands to disarm, leading to an agent firing in self-defense.
However, multiple videos circulating online and highlighted by eyewitnesses appear to contradict this description. In several clips, Pretti is first seen filming or observing federal agents with his phone before being pepper-sprayed, tackled, and wrestled to the ground by multiple officers. Some analysts and viewers interpret the footage as showing agents pulling a firearm away from Pretti or that he no longer had an identifiable weapon in his hands at the moment shots were fired.
The New York Times, in reviewing available recordings, noted that Pretti was holding what appeared to be a cellphone in his hand shortly before he was surrounded by federal officers and subdued on the sidewalk. Shortly after, multiple shots were fired within a span of seconds.
Federal officials maintain that Pretti was armed during the encounter and that the use of lethal force was justified to protect officers and bystanders. Border Patrol leadership has confirmed the agent who fired has several years of training and service, and DHS continues to assert that its version of events reflects the threat they faced.
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A video shared widely on X appears to show one of the agents run away with a firearm amid the scuffle involving Pretti.
The release and circulation of the new videos have prompted calls for greater transparency from state and local officials, civil rights groups, and Pretti’s family. Minnesota leaders have demanded the full release of body-worn camera footage, radio communications, and surveillance recordings to clarify the sequence of events. Some protesters argue that if Pretti was disarmed or not posing an imminent threat at the time he was shot, the incident could represent an unjustified use of deadly force.
Public response has been swift and passionate. In Minneapolis, demonstrations have continued, with residents expressing frustration over repeated fatal encounters with federal agents — including another recent shooting earlier that month — and the presence of heavily armed officers in residential and protest areas.
Legal experts say video evidence will be crucial in any official investigation or potential litigation. Independent analyses and contrasting government statements mean that the case remains contested, with national attention focused on whether federal law enforcement actions complied with legal standards and whether all relevant evidence will be disclosed to the public.

