Videos Show Altercation Between Alex Pretti and Federal Officers 11 Days Before He Was Killed



Newly surfaced videos showing an altercation between Alex Pretti and federal law enforcement officers in Minneapolis just 11 days before he was fatally shot have sparked renewed debate about the use of force by federal agents, conflicting official narratives, and the broader climate of tension surrounding immigration enforcement operations.

The videos, captured on a Minneapolis street on January 13, 2026, depict Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, engaging with federal immigration agents during what appeared to be a protest or public observation of an enforcement operation. The footage was obtained from bystanders and multiple media outlets, including The News Movement and the Star Tribune, and has been authenticated by news organisations.

What the Footage Shows

The January 13 video opens with Pretti in a crowded street corner where federal agents, believed to be from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other federal immigration units, are present. As agents begin to leave the scene, Pretti walks toward a federal SUV with flashing lights, shouts at officers and appears to spit in their direction. He then kicks the vehicle’s taillight, breaking the red plastic and leaving it dangling.

Moments later, at least one agent exits the vehicle and quickly engages Pretti physically. The video shows officers grabbing him and pushing him to the ground amid shouts from bystanders. Multiple agents participate in controlling the situation, and federal personnel deploy tear gas and pepper balls into the crowd as onlookers film the incident with their smartphones.

At one point, what appears to be a handgun tucked into Pretti’s waistband is visible on camera, though the footage does not show him reaching for or brandishing the weapon during the incident. It also remains unclear whether the officers were aware of its presence at the time of the confrontation.

After a brief struggle, Pretti manages to separate from the officers and walks away, seemingly unarrested.

Context and Timing

The January 13 encounter occurred amid a period of intense controversy in Minneapolis over federal immigration enforcement actions. Just days earlier, another fatal shooting by an ICE agent had occurred in the city, and tensions between residents, demonstrators, and federal agents were high.

Pretti’s death on January 24, 2026, came during another confrontation with federal agents. Official accounts initially claimed he approached officers with a firearm and acted aggressively, but multiple bystander videos from that day appear to contradict this narrative, showing him holding a cellphone when shot while on the ground and surrounded by officers.

Reactions and Controversy

The newly released footage has reignited national debate over the circumstances of Pretti’s death and the conduct of federal agents. Pretti’s family, speaking through their attorney, has condemned both the January 13 altercation and the later shooting, arguing that a confrontation more than a week earlier provides no justification for lethal force. “Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex’s killing,” said the family’s lawyer.

Family representatives and supporters have also highlighted that Pretti was a licensed concealed handgun carrier, but that he was never shown reaching for or displaying his weapon in a threatening way in either the earlier altercation or the fatal encounter.

Social media, public figures, and commentators have amplified the footage. For example, Donald Trump Jr. posted clips of the January 13 video on X (formerly Twitter), describing Pretti as having been a “peaceful legal observer” before his death.

Official Response and Investigation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has acknowledged the existence of the January 13 videos and said they are being reviewed as part of investigations into Pretti’s shooting. It remains unclear whether any of the agents involved in the earlier incident were present on January 24.

In light of the fatal shooting, two agents directly involved in the January 24 encounter have been placed on administrative leave, a standard procedural step while internal reviews continue.

The emerging footage has also prompted wider discussions in Congress and civil rights groups about federal law enforcement policies, transparency, and the use of body cameras or other recording technologies during enforcement operations.

Public and Political Impact

Community reactions have been strong. Advocates for police and federal enforcement reform argue that the videos undermine official accounts and demonstrate a pattern of aggressive behaviour by federal agents. Critics say that Pretti’s actions—such as damaging government property—may have contributed to heightened tensions, though they disagree about whether this justifies the eventual use of deadly force.

The case has also fuelled debate over broader immigration enforcement in urban areas, especially following multiple high-profile incidents involving federal agents in Minneapolis. Activists and local politicians have called for clearer rules restricting federal authority and increased accountability mechanisms to prevent similar confrontations.

Looking Ahead

As DHS’s review continues and more information from federal investigations may be released, the newly surfaced January 13 footage remains central to understanding the full context of Alex Pretti’s death. For now, the videos have complicated the narrative, highlighting ongoing tensions between federal law enforcement and community residents, raising questions about the use of force, and keeping the debate over accountability and justice in the spotlight.

If you’d like the article to include more background on the fatal Jan. 24 shooting or a timeline of events leading up to it, I can add that as well.