Lead: A video reportedly recorded on Jan. 13 appears to show a man resembling 37-year-old Alex Pretti spitting at federal agents and striking the taillight of a U.S. government SUV in Minneapolis. The footage, released days later by The News Movement, shows agents responding to the disturbance, using crowd-control measures and briefly detaining the man before releasing him. On Jan. 24, Pretti was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents while recording immigration enforcement activity, an event that has since drawn intense scrutiny and public protests. Authorities say agents recovered a suspected handgun and that nearly a dozen rounds were fired during the Jan. 24 encounter.
Key Takeaways
- Video dated Jan. 13 shows a man resembling Alex Pretti spitting at federal agents and kicking a CBP-marked SUV taillight, breaking it.
- Footage indicates agents used pepper balls and a chemical irritant toward nearby demonstrators; the individual in the clip was detained briefly and then released.
- Family attorneys and the Minnesota Star Tribune identified the person in the Jan. 13 video as Pretti; his family contests the use of lethal force on Jan. 24.
- On Jan. 24 in Minneapolis, U.S. Border Patrol agents fired what officials described as nearly a dozen rounds; one agent fired a CBP Glock 19 and another a CBP Glock 47.
- Officials say a 9mm pistol was removed from the waistband of the man who was shot on Jan. 24; video from that incident has been cited by multiple outlets and investigators.
- The two incidents — the Jan. 13 confrontation and the Jan. 24 shooting — have amplified tensions around federal immigration enforcement and anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis.
Background
Federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis have become flashpoints in recent weeks, producing clashes between agents and demonstrators opposed to ICE and Border Patrol actions. Anti-ICE protesters and community activists have staged frequent demonstrations near enforcement sites; authorities say they instruct bystanders to remain on sidewalks to avoid interfering with operations. The man identified by his family as Alex Pretti worked as an ICU nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs and was 37 years old at the time of his death.
Video outlets and local reporting have documented multiple encounters between demonstrators and federal officers, and the Jan. 13 clip surfaced amid growing public attention to those tensions. Federal agents in Minneapolis have used crowd-control tools such as pepper balls and chemical irritants in prior operations, and law enforcement statements emphasize officer safety when confronted with aggressive behavior. Civil-rights advocates and the family’s attorneys contend prior interactions with agents do not justify lethal force in later incidents.
Main Event
The Jan. 13 video released by The News Movement shows a bearded man in glasses shouting at agents, spitting in their direction and delivering a forceful kick to the taillight of a government SUV. Agents exit the vehicle, approach the man, take him to the ground and detain him briefly; the footage then shows the man walking away with a visible object at his waistband. According to the outlet that released the clip and subsequent reporting, he was not held for a prolonged period and was allowed to leave the scene.
On Jan. 24, separate body camera and surveillance footage of a later encounter show Border Patrol agents engaged with a crowd while conducting immigration enforcement. Video of that incident shows a struggle after agents attempted to take the same man into custody; agents can be heard saying the man was armed, and officers then fired multiple rounds. Officials reported that one agent used a CBP-issued Glock 19 and another fired a CBP-issued Glock 47, and that a suspected 9mm pistol was recovered from the person’s waistband.
Authorities describe the Jan. 24 operation as an enforcement action complicated by a group of protesters who were reportedly urged to remain on the sidewalk. Investigators say the subject resisted arrest and a physical altercation ensued; law enforcement has cited the presence of a firearm and what they describe as an immediate threat as factors in the use of deadly force. Family representatives dispute the necessity of lethal force and have said Pretti posed no threat when shot.
Analysis & Implications
The appearance of the Jan. 13 video has complicated the narrative around the Jan. 24 shooting by introducing prior interactions between the decedent and federal agents. In law-enforcement oversight, prior encounters can inform both officer threat assessments and community perceptions of escalation; however, earlier confrontations do not in themselves justify later use of deadly force. Investigators will need to assess whether the episodes are connected in terms of intent, targeting or operational planning.
For prosecutors and civil litigants, the visual record — including the Jan. 13 clip and Jan. 24 bodycam footage — will be central evidence. Video can clarify movements and timing but often leaves context and intent ambiguous; legal reviews typically combine video with officer statements, forensic evidence and witness testimony to establish what occurred and whether force was lawful. The family’s legal team has already signaled intent to challenge the shooting in court.
Politically and socially, the incidents are likely to intensify scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement in urban areas, especially where demonstrations are frequent. Local officials may face pressure to seek policy changes, increased transparency around operations, or independent reviews of agent conduct. Federally, the case will influence debates about how Border Patrol and ICE conduct operations in communities outside traditional border zones.
Comparison & Data
| Date | Event | Reported details |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2026 | Video release (The News Movement) | Man resembling Pretti spits at agents; taillight damaged; detained briefly |
| Jan. 24, 2026 | Fatal shooting (CBP) | Border Patrol fires nearly a dozen rounds; suspected 9mm recovered |
The table above places the two recorded incidents in sequence. While the Jan. 13 clip shows a nonlethal confrontation that ended with release, the Jan. 24 encounter resulted in fatal force. Investigators will compare timestamps, witness statements and firearm evidence to determine whether the events are connected beyond proximity and person identity.
Reactions & Quotes
“A week before Alex was gunned down in the street — despite posing no threat to anyone — he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents.”
Steve Schleicher, attorney for the Pretti family (as quoted to Fox News)
Schleicher’s statement frames the Jan. 13 encounter as an unlawful use of force by federal agents and denies that the Jan. 24 shooting was justified by prior conduct. The family has requested independent review and has emphasized Pretti’s occupation as a VA ICU nurse and his lack of dangerous intent, in their account.
“Officials say agents opened fire after agents perceived a threat and recovered a suspected firearm from the scene.”
U.S. law enforcement statement summarized by news outlets
Law-enforcement statements underscore officer safety claims and the presence of a suspected weapon; federal agencies have pointed to bodycam and scene evidence as part of ongoing internal and federal reviews. Those statements are likely to be examined alongside independent footage released by media organizations.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the object visible at the waistband in the Jan. 13 clip was a firearm remains unverified; officials later described a 9mm recovered after the Jan. 24 shooting.
- Complete investigative findings about the Jan. 24 shooting, including the sequence that led agents to open fire and whether de-escalation options were available, have not been publicly released in full.
- The extent and details of any alleged physical assault by ICE agents referenced by the family prior to Jan. 24 require independent corroboration beyond the family’s and media accounts.
Bottom Line
The newly released Jan. 13 video adds context to the community dispute over federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis but does not by itself resolve key legal questions about the Jan. 24 shooting. Visual footage documents confrontations and behavior, yet investigators and courts must assemble that material alongside forensic evidence and witness accounts to reach determinations about justification and accountability.
Expect prolonged legal and administrative reviews, additional public records requests, and continued local protests as advocates press for transparency. For policymakers and the public, the case underscores tensions between enforcement practices and efforts to protect civil liberties in settings where demonstrations and law-enforcement operations intersect.
Sources
- Fox News — news outlet reporting on the video and Jan. 24 shooting (news)
- The News Movement — outlet that released the Jan. 13 clip (media source)
- Minnesota Star Tribune — local reporting cited for family confirmation (local news)
- Reuters — wire reporting and image coverage referenced by multiple outlets (news wire)