New Video Shows Alex Pretti Scuffling With Federal Agents Before Fatal Shooting

Newly released video footage has emerged showing Alex Pretti in a heated confrontation with federal agents just 11 days before he was fatally shot in Minneapolis. The video, recorded on January 13, captures the 37-year-old ICU nurse spitting at a federal SUV and shattering its taillight with a forceful kick.

Following the damage to the vehicle, agents are seen exiting the SUV and tackling Pretti to the ground in a chaotic scuffle. Although a firearm appears visible in Pretti's waistband during the altercation, he does not reach for the weapon before eventually separating from the officers and leaving the scene.

This incident provides critical new context to the fatal encounter on January 24, where Pretti was killed by Customs and Border Protection agents during a protest. The shooting has drawn intense scrutiny, as initial official reports claimed Pretti was resisting, while witness videos suggest he was not holding a gun when shots were fired.

Legal analysts indicate that the newly released footage could be pivotal in establishing Pretti's state of mind leading up to his death. Critics argue the video demonstrates a pattern of hostility toward law enforcement, potentially bolstering the agents' defense that they perceived an imminent threat during the final encounter.

Conversely, attorneys for Pretti's family contend that the earlier video actually documents an unprovoked assault by federal officers against a citizen exercising his First Amendment rights. Family lawyer Steve Schleicher described the agents' conduct in the January 13 incident as a "violent assault" that unfairly targeted Pretti before his ultimate death.

The release of this footage has further inflamed tensions in Minneapolis, where widespread protests have erupted over the presence and conduct of federal law enforcement. Demonstrators have gathered near the shooting site on Nicollet Avenue, demanding transparency and the immediate withdrawal of federal agents from the city.

In response to the mounting public pressure, authorities have launched a federal investigation into ICE and CBP tactics used during operations in Minnesota. As the inquiry proceeds, the contrasting narratives of a dangerous aggressor versus a targeted victim continue to divide the community and complicate the ongoing legal proceedings.