Newly Released Footage Highlights Critical Moments Before Alex Pretti Was Tragically Attacked
Recently surfaced videos shed light on the final seconds before federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, revealing key footage, witness claims, and controversy surrounding the recovered firearm.
Federal immigration agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old protester, on Saturday morning in Minneapolis’s Whittier neighborhood.
Newly released footage from multiple sources, including bystanders and news outlets, captured the chaotic moments leading up to the shooting, prompting public debate about what exactly triggered the deadly use of force.
Protesters clashed with federal agents in South Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 21, 2026 | Source: Getty Images
Just after 9 a.m., video shows Pretti being tackled to the ground by a group of federal officers. As they restrained him, one agent reached into his waistband and removed a handgun later identified as a loaded Sig Sauer P320 9 mm semiautomatic pistol.
As the agent emerged from the group holding the weapon, a loud gunshot rang out, followed by at least nine more shots fired at close range by a second agent, as Pretti lay motionless on the pavement.
Protesters clash with federal agents in South Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 21, 2026 | Source: Getty Images
Footage from various angles captured the officers shouting, “he’s got a gun,” moments before the weapon was recovered. In one close-up view, the slide on the handgun appears to move while in the agent’s grip, suggesting it may have fired unintentionally.
It remains unclear whether Pretti had drawn the weapon or if it was pulled from his clothing by the officer. The agent who retrieved the firearm was seen holding nothing before approaching Pretti, according to a CNN video analysis.
Federal law enforcement agents confront anti-ICE protesters during a demonstration in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 15, 2026 | Source: Getty Images
Shortly after the initial shot, the agent walked away from the scene with the weapon in hand. In the aftermath, as Pretti lay still, another officer was heard asking, “where’s the gun?” The agent responded, “I got the gun”.
Witness accounts suggest Pretti had been assisting a woman moments before the altercation. Video taken at the scene shows him helping her after she was shoved to the ground by an immigration officer, who then sprayed the pair with tear gas.
Border Patrol agents stand guard at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 8, 2026 | Source: Getty Images
Several agents then pulled Pretti away, bringing him to the ground as he resisted on his hands and knees before being subdued. Authorities later confirmed that Pretti had a permit to legally carry the weapon.
He had been protesting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota and was reportedly attempting to intervene as agents tried to detain the woman.
A demonstrator holds a sign during a vigil following a shooting by an ICE agent during federal law enforcement operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 7, 2026. | Source: Getty Images
Experts have weighed in on the potential cause of the initial gunshot. Rob Doar, a lawyer with the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, stated on X, “I believe it’s highly likely the first shot was a negligent discharge from the agent in the grey jacket after he removed the Sig P320 from Pretti’s holster while exiting the scene.”
The Sig Sauer P320 has previously faced scrutiny for discharging unintentionally, a detail that some believe may have played a key role in the chain of events.
ICE agents approach a home during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 13, 2026 | Source: Getty Images
The case has drawn widespread attention online, with netizens pointing to inconsistencies in the sequence of events. One person wrote, “Video confirms the handgun was secured before shots fired, raising serious questions about use-of-force justification.”
Another noted, “The gun discharged right after he pulled it out. You can see the bullet fire or hit the ground in 1 angle.” A third person added, “I think… once again, I think… the gun that was taken from the protester misfired and it set off the escalation of events.”
Immigrations, Customs, and Enforcement officers standing on a street. | Source: Getty Images
Federal authorities have yet to confirm which officer fired the first shot or whether any disciplinary actions are underway. The investigation is ongoing, and official statements regarding the use of force and the weapon’s discharge have not yet been released.