A startling new detail has emerged in the case of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old killed during a federal enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24, raising fresh questions about the use of lethal force.
Pretti, an ICU nurse known for his work with veterans, was shot multiple times at close range during a confrontation with federal agents. His death, coming less than three weeks after a similar fatal incident involving Renee Good, has intensified scrutiny over enforcement tactics and accountability.
Initial reports from federal authorities painted Pretti as a dangerous threat. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed he had brandished a firearm and intended to inflict “maximum damage,” while former President Donald Trump shared images of a handgun, calling Pretti a gunman.
But eyewitness videos now circulating appear to contradict that narrative. Footage shows Pretti legally carrying a SIG Sauer P320 handgun, but it also suggests agents removed the weapon from his holster before any shots were fired. In one video, Pretti is seen holding only a cellphone with his other hand raised, seemingly shielding two women caught in the chaos.
Firearms expert and attorney Rob Doar of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus noted that the first gunshot may have come from an agent’s negligent discharge rather than Pretti himself. Doar explained that a chain reaction may have followed, with other agents mistaking the accidental shot as hostile fire, ultimately leading to Pretti’s death.
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