Two federal officers involved in the fatal shooting of Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti have been placed on administrative leave while investigations continue. The decision follows an internal review by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and contradicts earlier statements suggesting the agents had remained on duty in another city for safety reasons.
Pretti, 37, was shot and killed on Saturday during an encounter with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Border Patrol agents who were conducting enforcement actions as part of Operation Metro Surge near Nicollet Avenue and 25th Street. DHS said the temporary leave is standard protocol after an officer-involved shooting and “should not be viewed as any suspicion of wrongdoing.”
According to a preliminary DHS report sent to Congress, two officers discharged their agency-issued Glock pistols after a brief struggle. During the encounter, an agent repeatedly shouted, “He’s got a gun!” before shots were fired roughly five seconds later. Investigators have not confirmed whether bullets from both officers struck Pretti.
Homeland Security officials said early statements describing Pretti as a potential mass attacker were based on chaotic initial reports. “The initial statement was based on reports from CBP from a very chaotic scene on the ground. That’s precisely why an investigation is underway and DHS will let the facts lead the investigation,” a spokesperson said.
Federal officials said the confrontation began after officers tried to clear civilians from the roadway amid protests and whistle-blowing demonstrators. After pepper spray was used, agents attempted to detain Pretti, who resisted, leading to a brief struggle. Following the shooting, agents provided emergency medical aid until paramedics arrived. Pretti was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Minnesota officials stated that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry and no criminal history. Video footage reviewed by multiple news outlets appears to show him holding a phone in one hand and nothing in the other immediately before he was shot. Additional footage indicates that an officer retrieved a firearm from Pretti’s waistband just moments before gunfire erupted. The report does not mention Pretti attacking officers or pointing a weapon.
A federal judge has ordered authorities to preserve all evidence after state investigators were initially blocked from accessing the scene. Both DHS and CBP are conducting separate investigations, and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release autopsy results.
The shooting of Pretti follows another fatal encounter earlier this month, when 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot by an immigration officer. In response, Democratic leaders called for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation “The country is disgusted by what the Department of Homeland Security has done,” House Democratic Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar said in a joint statement. “Kristi Noem should be fired immediately,” they added, “or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives.”
The CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, which handles serious misconduct and criminal allegations, is leading the internal inquiry. Officials emphasized that the preliminary report outlines known facts but does not represent final conclusions.
Editorial credit: Matt Gush / Shutterstock.com