The Border Patrol agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti have been placed on administrative leave, according to federal officials, as protests and scrutiny continue across Minnesota.
Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was fatally shot in Minneapolis on January 24 during an encounter with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has described the shooting as an act of self-defense, though evidence of an immediate threat posed by Pretti remains disputed. Pretti, who was legally carrying a 9mm semiautomatic firearm at the time, did not display any overt intent to use it against the officers.
A spokesperson for CBP confirmed to CBS News that two agents involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave. The move is standard procedure following any officer-involved shooting and is intended to safeguard both the officers and the public while investigations are ongoing.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees both ICE and Border Patrol operations, addressed the protocol in a press statement. She emphasized that the department is following its standard procedures for such incidents. “We are following the exact same investigative and review process that we always have under ICE and under the Department of Homeland Security and within the administration,” Noem said. “The exact same policy that the Biden administration used, the exact same review. We haven’t changed any of that.”
Pretti’s death is the second fatal shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks. On January 7, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed during an ICE enforcement operation. Both incidents have ignited widespread outrage, protests, and calls for accountability from Minnesota residents and advocacy groups.
According to reports, Pretti’s encounter with federal agents began when he was filming an immigration enforcement operation in the city. Videos from the scene show Pretti attempting to assist a woman who had fallen to the ground after being sprayed with pepper spray by federal officers. While Pretti held a legal firearm in his right hand, witnesses and his family have said he was not threatening the agents. Despite this, a shot rang out, followed by at least nine more, fatally wounding him.
Pretti’s family has publicly challenged the federal government’s narrative. “Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact,” they said in a statement. “The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand, and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down.”
The Minneapolis Police Department has also expressed frustration over the handling of the incident. Chief Brian O’Hara noted that the city’s police force, comprising roughly 600 officers, has been stretched thin managing the protests and federal operations. O’Hara said his department received little information from federal authorities in the immediate aftermath of Pretti’s shooting, which complicated the local response.
“Even when our officers initially responded to the scene, our watch commander was not given even the most basic information that is typical in a law enforcement-involved shooting,” O’Hara told CBS News. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is investigating the shooting, was initially blocked from the scene by federal officials but was later allowed access to canvass for witnesses.
Former FBI special agent Scott Sweetow explained that placing officers on administrative leave following the use of deadly force is a protective measure for all involved. “That’s both to protect the agency, to protect the person, and frankly to protect the public,” Sweetow said. “Someone who has just used deadly force may be rattled, and you don’t want them back out there immediately engaging in situations where lethal force could be used again.”
Federal authorities have defended the agents’ actions, asserting that Pretti resisted disarmament and that the officers acted in self-defense. DHS officials reported that the agent who fired his weapon is an eight-year veteran of the Border Patrol. However, these accounts remain under scrutiny as videos and eyewitness testimonies continue to circulate, showing Pretti attempting to help a fallen protester and not brandishing his firearm.
President Donald Trump spoke publicly about the shootings, describing both Pretti’s and Good’s deaths as tragic. While reiterating support for law enforcement and border security, the former president expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the shootings.
“I think the whole thing is terrible,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News. “I don’t like the fact that he was carrying a gun, that was fully loaded, and he had two magazines with him. It’s pretty unusual. But nobody knows when they saw the gun, how they saw the gun. Bottom line is that it was terrible.”
Trump also expressed sympathy for the families, highlighting the personal impact of the incidents. “Makes me feel bad anyway, but I guess you could say even worse—they were tremendous Trump people, Trump fans. I hate to see it, I hate to see it,” he said.
Public reaction to the shootings has been immediate and intense. Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Minneapolis to demand accountability, an end to federal enforcement operations in the city, and better oversight of ICE and Border Patrol activities. Demonstrators have also highlighted broader concerns about excessive use of force and civil liberties violations during federal operations.
Political figures have responded in a variety of ways. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the former U.S. representative from Georgia, called on Americans to “take off their political blinders” and warned that citizens were being “incited into civil war.” Greene emphasized the right to legally carry firearms and the right to peacefully protest, drawing parallels between Pretti’s death and the government’s handling of participants in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Other lawmakers have focused on the need for an impartial investigation. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized DHS for releasing information and images about the incident on social media, calling it premature and unrelated to the ongoing investigation. Calls for federal and state inquiries have intensified, with legal experts pointing to the necessity of an independent review to determine whether the officers’ actions were justified.
The DHS and ICE have pledged full cooperation with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. At the same time, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended federal officers’ protocols and emphasized that the review process for deadly force incidents has not changed.
As investigations continue, the city of Minneapolis remains tense. Police resources are stretched thin, residents are demanding answers, and public trust in federal enforcement agencies has been shaken. The deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good have sparked a broader debate over the role of federal law enforcement in local communities, the use of lethal force, and accountability measures in immigration enforcement operations.
The events underscore the challenges federal agencies face when conducting enforcement operations in urban areas, particularly where protests, media attention, and public scrutiny intersect. For Pretti’s family, the loss is deeply personal and a reminder of the human cost of federal enforcement actions.
“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” Pretti’s family said. “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect a woman ICE just pushed down. Tragically, he will not be with us to see the difference he made in this world.”
With both agents placed on administrative leave and multiple investigations underway, the nation continues to grapple with questions about federal enforcement authority, civil liberties, and the appropriate use of force. The situation remains fluid, and Minneapolis residents, federal agencies, and lawmakers alike are awaiting further developments.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
