A firearm expert has raised alarming concerns about Alex Pretti's gun after reviewing video of the fatal shooting.
On January 24, the 37-year-old ICU nurse was fatally shot by a US Border Patrol officer.
According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Pretti allegedly approached officers while armed and “violently resisted” as they attempted to disarm him.
However, footage has since surfaced online, and it shows Pretti holding a cell phone, not a gun, in the moments before his death.
Firearm Expert Weighs In
Firearm instructor Rob Doar has spoken up about the heartbreaking incident, offering a chilling analysis of the video footage.
In an interview with CBS Minnesota, he challenged FBI Director Kash Patel’s claims on Fox News, where he said protestors aren't allowed to bring a firearm that is "loaded" to any protests.
Doar says that comment is not true, adding: "If you have a permit to carry, you have every right to carry it anywhere you're lawfully allowed to be. That includes public spaces and that includes protests."
He also examined the horrific footage that shows the moment Pretti was gunned down by federal officers and said that it was "absolutely clear" that before the shooting, Pretti was disarmed.
"I believe that the gunshot came from Alex Pretti's firearms from the agent that was carrying it away," he claimed. "After that first gunshot, there's a brief pause, and then that's when Alex Pretti himself was shot."
Pretti Family’s Heartfelt Statement and Response to DHS’s Claims
In an interview with The Associated Press, Pretti's parents, Michael and Susan, shared their last conversation with their son just days before the shooting.
They spoke about everyday matters, such as repairs to his garage door and Pretti’s act of kindness in tipping a Latino repairman $100 amidst the unrest in Minneapolis.
The couple also expressed their concerns about the growing tensions in the city and urged their son to protest peacefully.
Michael Pretti recalled, "We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically. And he said he knows that. He knew that."
The Prettis later confirmed Alex’s death through the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, after struggling to reach Minnesota officials.
In a statement released following the tragedy, they described their son as a “kindhearted soul” and fiercely rejected the DHS’s account, calling it "sickening lies."
“We are heartbroken but also very angry,” the statement read. “Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact.”
Eyewitness Accounts Paint a Starkly Different Picture to the DHS's Account
Eyewitness accounts from those who were at the scene paint a very different picture of the events leading to Pretti’s death than what the DHS had claimed.
One witness, a woman driving near the protest, recalled seeing Pretti directing traffic and filming the scene on his phone when the shooting occurred.
She wrote: “[Pretti] put his hands above his head, and the agent sprayed him again and pushed him. Then [Pretti] tried to help up the woman the ICE agent had shoved to the ground."
"The ICE agents just kept spraying. It didn’t look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up," per PEOPLE.
A second witness, a licensed pediatrician, attempted to offer medical assistance to Pretti after he was shot.
Despite informing ICE agents of his medical credentials, the physician said he was initially prevented from helping. When he arrived at Pretti’s side, he found the victim surrounded by agents who had not checked for a pulse or administered CPR.
“Instead of doing either of those things, the ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds,” the physician explained. “I asked the ICE agents if the victim had a pulse, and they said they did not know.”
After checking for a pulse and finding none, the witness immediately began CPR, which was later taken over by EMS personnel.
It was revealed that Pretti had sustained at least 10 gunshot wounds.
Political and Public Backlash Continues to Grow
As the investigation into Pretti's death continues, the controversy surrounding the shooting shows no sign of dissipating.
The horrific incident has sparked public outcry, with many people demanding accountability from ICE and federal authorities.
First Lady Melania Trump, in a recent appearance on Fox & Friends, called for unity amid the unrest: “I’m calling for unity. I know my husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and they’re working together to make it peaceful and without riots."
"I’m against the violence, so please, if you protest, protest in peace. And we need to unify in this time," she added.