WASHINGTON (AP) — New video evidence has emerged showing Alex Pretti being tackled to the ground by immigration agents during a protest in Minneapolis, days before a deadly encounter with Border Patrol officers. The videos captured on January 13 show Pretti actively resisting arrest while demonstrating against immigration enforcement.
Pretti, wearing a winter coat, is seen kicking the taillight of an immigration vehicle before being engaged by several federal agents. Although a handgun is visible in his waistband, the footage does not show him reaching for it. A source confirmed to the Associated Press that Pretti discussed this altercation with his family.
This incident rekindles the national conversation surrounding Pretti's death on January 24, when he was shot by Border Patrol officers. After the new footage was released, Donald Trump Jr. shared it on social media, labeling Pretti a 'peaceful legal observer.'
Attorney Steve Schleicher, representing Pretti’s parents, strongly criticized the agents' actions, 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 (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents.' He emphasized that nothing from the prior week could justify the fatal shooting of Pretti.
According to reports, during the confrontation that led to Pretti's death, officers attempted to subdue him while he was recording their actions. As he was being detained, an officer noticed the weapon, leading to the use of lethal force against him. The Homeland Security Investigations is reviewing the incident, although details remain unclear about the involvement of the agents from the initial altercation.
Pretti's death has sparked outrage among advocates and community members, who argue that his shooting was unnecessary. Activists stress the need for greater accountability in law enforcement practices, particularly regarding the treatment of activists and immigrants. The videos that surfaced show moments before the fatal confrontation where Pretti is just using his phone, suggesting that he was documenting rather than behaving aggressively.
