New footage has surfaced, showing Alex Pretti engaged in a tense altercation with federal agents in Minneapolis, just 11 days before he was tragically shot dead by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The video, obtained by The News Movement, depicts the 37-year-old ICU nurse at the corner of East 36th and Park Avenue on January 13, as federal agents were blocking a street in the area.
This incident took place just four days after a similar fatal confrontation involving ICE agents, where 37-year-old Renee Good was killed in nearby Portland Avenue South.
Details of the Confrontation
The video, which has been confirmed by Pretti's family, shows him in a heated confrontation with the agents.
As the agents begin to drive away from a crowd of onlookers, Pretti is seen spitting at the vehicle before kicking its taillight twice, knocking it loose. One of the agents then exits the vehicle, grabbing the nurse and pushing him to the ground.
The altercation escalates as agents fire tear gas and pepper balls into the crowd, continuing to hold Pretti down until he breaks free. A gun can be seen holstered behind his back as he shouts at the retreating agents.
Steve Schleicher, the attorney representing Pretti's family, expressed outrage, stating: "A week before Alex was gunned down in the street - despite posing no threat to anyone - he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents. Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex's killing at the hands of ICE on Jan 24," per Sky News.
Trump’s Social Media Comments Spark Debate
The footage has drawn attention, with even President Donald Trump sharing the video on his social media platform, Truth Social, and reposting a user's comment calling Pretti a "peaceful protester."
In a statement to NBC News, a Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed the video’s authenticity and stated that the agency's investigations team is reviewing the footage.
The Fatal Shooting of Alex Pretti
The circumstances surrounding Pretti's death are still under investigation.
According to a preliminary report from the Department of Homeland Security, two agents fired their weapons during the incident.
The report did not confirm claims by federal officials that Pretti was "brandishing" a gun at the time, though a gun was reportedly found on him when he was killed. His family maintains that he was not holding a weapon during the fatal encounter.
The fatal shooting has sparked national outrage, particularly after the late healthcare professional was known to have participated in protests following the death of Good.
His family, calling him a "kind-hearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends," has vehemently rejected claims made by senior members of the Trump administration, including Trump adviser Stephen Miller and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who labeled Mr. Pretti a "would-be assassin."
Meanwhile, Trump distanced himself from these comments. "No [I wouldn't call Mr Pretti a would-be assassin]. Not as a - no... Listen, you can't walk in with guns," he said. "You can't do that, but it's just a very unfortunate incident."
As the investigation continues, the agents involved in Pretti's death have been placed on leave.