Minneapolis — A newly released video shows Alex Pretti in a tense confrontation with federal immigration officers on January 13, eleven days before he was fatally shot by federal agents on January 24. The footage, verified by family representatives and reviewed by multiple news outlets, adds another layer of detail to a story that has stirred national debate and deep emotions.
In the grainy clips recorded in south Minneapolis, Pretti, 37, appears amid a crowd of onlookers and protesters as federal agents conduct an immigration enforcement operation. He is seen shouting at officers, spitting toward a government SUV, and striking the rear taillight with his foot, shattering the plastic. At one point in the video, what looks like a holstered handgun is visible at his waistband, though he never draws it or threatens anyone with it.
The chaos unfolds with agents in tactical gear stepping out of the vehicle and quickly bringing Pretti to the ground. As masked officers attempt to control the situation, there are flashes of heated words and scuffles, but no serious injuries were reported afterward, and Pretti appears to walk away once officers withdraw. A family attorney later identified the man in the footage as Pretti.
This earlier encounter has taken on fresh importance since Pretti’s death during a separate federal operation. On January 24, U.S. Border Patrol agents shot him multiple times in Minneapolis, an event captured on video and shared widely online. Officials said Pretti was armed and resisted arrest; critics and some eyewitnesses dispute that account, saying he was holding a phone and trying to help someone when the shooting occurred.
Family members and advocates have stressed that nothing from the January 13 confrontation would justify using lethal force against Pretti weeks later. His lawyer called the earlier clash “violent” but argued it bears no relation to the later deadly encounter. Homeland Security officials have acknowledged the January 13 footage and say they are reviewing it, but have not confirmed any charges or how it might relate to broader investigations into federal enforcement tactics.
Across Minneapolis and beyond, the dispute has fueled passionate reactions. Supporters of Pretti describe him as a devoted intensive care nurse and community member who cared deeply about people caught up in immigration enforcement. Critics point to the video as evidence of his confrontational behavior. Whatever the interpretation, the newly surfaced footage has drawn renewed attention to how federal agents interact with civilians, especially during tense enforcement operations.
Investigations into Pretti’s death are ongoing, with federal authorities saying they aim to understand all aspects of what happened both before and during the January 24 shooting. Meanwhile, the video from January 13 remains a vivid and contested piece of this unfolding story — one that has captured national attention and stirred intense emotion in Minneapolis and across the country.
