A forensic body language and behavioral analysis expert is disputing the official account of Alex Pretti’s death, urging the public to closely examine video footage showing an ICE agent in a gray jacket moments before the fatal shooting.
Minneapolis has drawn renewed national attention after two deadly incidents involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement within weeks of each other. Following the death of Renee Nicole Good, concern intensified after 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed during an anti-ICE protest on January 24.
Presidential and Federal Statements
In comments to The Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump defended the federal operation, stating that the firearm authorities say Pretti carried was “extremely dangerous and unpredictable.”
“I don’t like any shooting,” Trump said in the January 25 interview. “But bringing a loaded firearm with additional ammunition into a protest environment creates serious risk.”
DHS Defends Use of Force
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed that position, asserting that Pretti interfered with officers and “brandished” a weapon.
According to statements reported by CNN, Noem said Pretti attacked agents, possessed a firearm, and carried significant ammunition, implying an imminent threat to officer safety.
Yet video footage shared widely online presents a more complex picture.
Footage Raises Questions About the Encounter
Multiple videos from the scene do not show Pretti holding a gun at any time. While he did have a legally purchased firearm secured in a waistband holster, recordings appear to show him holding a cellphone as officers confront him.
Eyewitness accounts describe Pretti — a Veterans Affairs nurse — as attempting to comply while assisting another person during the protest. Videos show him being pepper-sprayed, pushed, and taken to the ground, with no clear visual evidence that he drew a weapon.
Expert Reviews Officer Behavior
The incident has since been analyzed by Dr. G Explains, a clinical and forensic psychologist known for reviewing law enforcement encounters through behavioral and body language analysis.
In a detailed YouTube breakdown, Dr. G stated that one officer’s actions appeared to escalate tensions rather than reduce them.
“This is not de-escalation behavior,” he said, referencing an agent who repeatedly pushed and sprayed Pretti.
Dr. G also noted that after Pretti was forced to the ground, the same agent appeared to strike him with a pepper spray canister.
Attention Drawn to Officer in Gray Jacket
Dr. G then directed viewers to focus on another officer wearing a gray jacket.
According to his analysis, when Pretti was on his knees, the gray-jacketed agent removed the firearm from Pretti’s waistband. Shortly after, someone can be heard shouting “gun.”
Dr. G emphasized that the officer who secured the firearm did not appear to announce that Pretti had been disarmed.
“At the moment the gun is removed, it is no longer visible,” he explained. “Yet that’s when other officers raise their weapons.”
Tactical Concerns Raised
Dr. G also questioned why the agent who allegedly removed the firearm turned away and ran from the scene as shots were fired.
“If an officer genuinely believes someone remains armed and dangerous,” he said, “turning your back and retreating would not align with that perception.”
He acknowledged the possibility that officers believed Pretti may have had another weapon, but noted that the agent’s body language did not reflect that level of perceived threat.
Calls for Independent Review Continue
The expert’s analysis has added momentum to calls for transparency, independent review, and release of additional evidence. Community leaders and civil rights advocates continue to request full disclosure of footage and investigative findings.
As the case remains under review, public attention remains focused on whether official statements align with the available video evidence.
What are your thoughts on the Alex Pretti case? Share your perspective and condolences in the comments, and consider sharing this report so others can examine the expert analysis and available footage.