Videos Show Confrontation Between Minneapolis Nurse and Federal Agents Before His Death

Footage shows Alex Pretti spitting, cursing, and kicking a federal agent's vehicle 11 days before he was fatally shot by agents.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 8:47pm

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New videos have emerged showing a confrontation between Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti and federal agents 11 days before he was fatally shot by agents on January 28. The footage shows Pretti, who was wearing some of the same clothing as when he was killed, running toward a group of protesters and shouting, cursing, and spitting at the agents. When the agents began to drive away, Pretti kicked and broke a taillight on one of their SUVs, prompting the agents to get out and push him to the ground. Pretti's family has condemned the agents' actions and said the earlier incident could not have justified his killing.

Why it matters

The newly released videos provide additional context about Pretti's interactions with federal agents prior to his death, raising questions about the agents' use of force and whether the earlier incident was connected to the later confrontation in which Pretti was killed. Pretti's family has accused the Trump administration of perpetuating lies about him and has described him as a good man who helped treat sick patients at a local VA hospital.

The details

The footage shows Pretti, wearing some of the same clothing as when he was killed, running toward a group of protesters in the Powderhorn neighborhood of Minneapolis on January 13. He can be seen shouting, cursing, and spitting at federal agents who were standing next to two of their SUVs. When the agents began to drive away, Pretti kicked and broke a taillight on one of the vehicles, prompting the agents to get out and push him to the ground. The agents held Pretti on the ground for about 20 seconds before letting him go and driving off. A gun was seen tucked into the back of Pretti's waistband during this earlier incident.

  • On January 13, Pretti confronted federal agents at a protest in Minneapolis.
  • On January 28, Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.

The players

Alex Pretti

A 37-year-old Minneapolis nurse who was fatally shot by federal agents on January 28.

Homeland Security Investigations

A division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that was involved in the earlier confrontation with Pretti.

Border Patrol

The agency that employed one of the agents who shot and killed Pretti on January 28.

Customs and Border Protection

The parent agency of Border Patrol, which employed the other agent who shot and killed Pretti on January 28.

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What they’re saying

“A week before Alex was gunned down in the street — despite posing no threat to anyone — he was violently assaulted by federal agents.”

— Steve Schleicher, Lawyer for Pretti's family (The New York Times)

“Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex's killing.”

— Steve Schleicher, Lawyer for Pretti's family (The New York Times)

What’s next

The two federal agents involved in the shooting that killed Pretti have been placed on leave as part of the agency's protocol for agent-involved shootings. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The takeaway

The newly released videos raise serious questions about the federal agents' use of force against Pretti and whether the earlier confrontation was connected to the later incident in which he was killed. Pretti's family has condemned the agents' actions and accused the Trump administration of perpetuating lies about him, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability in cases of law enforcement violence.