The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, ignited a national firestorm. Video evidence contradicted official accounts, revealed questionable law enforcement tactics, and deepened a political crisis for the Trump administration. This article details the minute-by-minute events and their profound aftermath.
Prelude to the Shooting: Federal Operations in Minneapolis
The incident occurred during a major immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, part of a nationwide crackdown by the Trump administration. Thousands of federal agents, including from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), had been deployed to the city.
The administration had dramatically expanded ICE’s size and power, doubling its manpower to 22,000 agents and increasing its budget to $85 billion while shortening training periods and waiving age limits. The mission in Minneapolis was launched after some Somali immigrants were convicted of welfare fraud, but critics argued it led to the detention of people with no criminal records and even U.S. citizens.
The Morning of January 24: A Detailed Timeline
The fatal interaction began just after 8:54 a.m. Central Time on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. The following timeline is reconstructed from multiple verified videos and analyses.
Key Context
· Alex Pretti: A 37-year-old VA hospital ICU nurse, a U.S. citizen with no criminal record. He had a valid permit to carry a firearm, which is legal in Minnesota.
· Federal Agents: U.S. Border Patrol agents were on the street as part of the immigration operation.
📅 Key Events Before the Shooting (8:54 AM – 9:01 AM)
8:54 AM
· Activists and observers arrive on Nicollet Avenue, having been alerted to federal immigration activity in the area.
8:58 AM
· Alex Pretti is seen holding his phone, apparently recording federal agents who are detaining an individual.
9:00:41 AM
· An agent shoves a woman with an orange backpack to the ground. Pretti steps between them, saying, “Do not push them into the traffic” .
· The agent replies, “I’m pushing them away from the traffic” and almost immediately blasts pepper spray toward Pretti’s face.
9:00:56 AM – 9:01:02 AM
· After being sprayed, Pretti is pulled into the street by agents. A struggle ensues as multiple agents try to wrestle him to the ground.
· Witnesses scream, “That is police brutality!” as at least five agents pin Pretti down. One agent is seen striking Pretti near the head with a pepper spray canister at least four times.
💥 The Shooting and Its Immediate Aftermath (9:01:12 AM – 9:02:28 AM)
9:01:12 AM
· An agent draws his firearm.
9:01:13 AM
· Crucial Moment: An agent in a gray jacket reaches into the scrum and removes a handgun from Pretti’s waistband or back. Voices are heard yelling, “Gun! Gun!” .
· The agent with the gray jacket retreats, securing Pretti’s weapon.
9:01:14 AM
· First Shot Fired: While Pretti is on his knees, restrained by other agents, an agent standing directly over him fires the first shot.
· Three more shots are fired in quick succession. Pretti goes limp.
9:01:16 – 9:01:19 AM
· Six more shots are fired at Pretti as he lies motionless on the ground. In total, 10 shots are fired within five seconds.
9:01:45 AM Onwards
· Agents approach Pretti’s body. Approximately 29 seconds after the shooting, an agent is heard saying, “I’ve got the gun!” and another responds, “You’ve got the gun?” .
· A doctor who attempted to treat Pretti at the scene reported he had at least three bullet wounds in his back, one in his upper chest, and another possible wound on his neck.
Aftermath: Contested Narratives and Political Crisis
⚖️ Conflicting Official Accounts
· Federal Government (DHS/CBP): Initially claimed Pretti “approached” agents brandishing a gun with intent to “massacre” law enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled him a “domestic terrorist” .
· Local Authorities & Video Evidence: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated Pretti was a lawful gun owner and that no video showed him brandishing a weapon. Analysis by BBC Verify and others found no sign of a gun in Pretti’s hand during the interaction; he was holding a phone.
· Family’s Response: Pretti’s family called the administration’s statements “sickening lies,” noting he had no criminal record beyond traffic tickets.
🔍 Investigations and Impediments
A major point of conflict emerged over investigative authority, echoing a similar fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7.
· Minneapolis police reported federal agents blocked local officers from accessing the crime scene, despite having a search warrant.
· The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension stated the Department of Homeland Security was not cooperating with the state investigation.
· The FBI and internal federal investigations were opened, but state officials were largely cut off.
🗣️ National Reaction and Political Fallout
The shooting triggered widespread condemnation and exposed rifts within the Republican Party.
Growing Republican Concern
Several prominent Republicans broke ranks to call for thorough investigations:
· Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA): Said the shooting was “incredibly disturbing” and that the “credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake” .
· Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): Stated “ICE agents do not have carte blanche” .
· Governor Kevin Stitt (R-OK): Called it a “real tragedy” and asked the Trump administration to define its “end game” in Minneapolis.
Gun Rights Advocates React
The administration’s focus on Pretti’s legal firearm alienated some conservative allies.
· The National Rifle Association (NRA) urged waiting for a full investigation and “demonizing law-abiding citizens” .
· The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus emphasized the right to bear arms during protests.
Public Opinion and Protests
· Polls showed a significant shift: A New York Times/Siena College poll found 61% of Americans felt ICE had been “too tough,” a view shared by 70% of independents and 20% of Republicans.
· Massive protests erupted in Minneapolis and spread to cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Chants of “ICE out now” filled the streets.
· Major Minnesota-based corporations like Target, Best Buy, and 3M signed an open letter calling for de-escalation.
🏛️ Administration Response and Policy Context
President Trump initially defended the agents but later signaled a slight shift.
· He stated he was “reviewing everything” and would eventually withdraw agents from Minneapolis but gave no timeframe.
· He blamed Democratic leaders in Minnesota for non-cooperation and called on Congress to end sanctuary cities.
· Internally, the administration reportedly feared the situation was a “self-inflicted political nightmare” harming Trump’s standing on his signature issue.
Expert Analysis: Tactical Failures and Systemic Issues
Policing experts who reviewed the videos identified multiple tactical failures that violated modern de-escalation guidelines.
Key Expert Criticisms
· Unnecessary Escalation: The initial shove of a bystander and immediate use of pepper spray were avoidable. Experts stated the agent could have ignored or arrested her if she was breaking the law.
· Sloppy and Excessive Control Tactics: The take-down was described as a “sloppy wrestling” match. Using multiple agents chaotically can confuse the person being arrested.
· Striking with a Canister: Hitting Pretti near the head with a hard object was unjustified unless he posed an immediate, serious threat.
· Failure to Communicate After Disarming: The agent who secured Pretti’s gun did not clearly communicate this to others, a critical failure in a high-stress situation.
· Use of Deadly Force After Disarmament: Experts found it difficult to justify shooting Pretti after he was disarmed and while he was restrained or motionless on the ground.
Broader Context: A Pattern of ICE-Related Deaths
Pretti’s death was not isolated. It was one of at least nine deaths linked to immigration enforcement in January 2026 alone.
Other Notable Cases
· Renee Good: Shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7 after she tried to drive away from agents surrounding her car.
· Geraldo Lunas Campos: Died in ICE custody in Texas on January 3. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide by “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression,” contradicting ICE’s story.
· Keith Porter: An off-duty ICE agent shot and killed Porter, a 43-year-old Black man, in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve under contested circumstances.
These incidents contributed to a growing national debate about the scope, tactics, and accountability of federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
The killing of Alex Pretti stands as a tragic milestone where video evidence, expert analysis, and public sentiment converged to challenge an official narrative, revealing deep systemic issues in federal law enforcement practices and triggering a significant political reckoning.