A new minute-by-minute reconstruction based on verified videos presents a sharply different account of the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse killed during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis.
The timeline, reported by ABC News and corroborated by multiple camera angles, raises doubts about early federal claims that Pretti approached agents armed and intending harm.
Initial statements from the Department of Homeland Security described Pretti as a dangerous threat and said agents fired in self-defense after he resisted disarmament.
However, former DHS undersecretary John Cohen said the videos do not support claims that Pretti acted in a threatening manner or showed intent to use lethal force.
Footage shows Pretti standing on Nicollet Avenue minutes before the shooting, holding what appears to be a phone and recording enforcement activity as officers interact with civilians.
As tensions rise, officers are seen pushing a civilian near traffic. Pretti appears to intervene while still holding his phone, after which he is pepper-sprayed and forced to the ground by multiple agents.
Video later shows an officer removing a handgun from Pretti’s waistband during the struggle, followed by multiple shots fired in quick succession. No footage shows Pretti pointing or firing a weapon.
The killing has sparked protests, vigils, and calls for transparency. Pretti’s family disputes official claims, urging that conclusions follow evidence as investigations into the use of force continue.