A shooting incident involving federal agents in Minneapolis has raised serious questions regarding its justification. On January 24, 2026, federal agents fatally shot protester Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, during a confrontation that followed a protest against federal enforcement actions in the area. Eyewitness accounts and video footage suggest that Pretti may have been disarmed just moments before he was shot.
Rob Doar, senior vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, expressed deep concerns over the legality of the shooting after reviewing video evidence. He shared his analysis on social media, asserting that the killing appeared unwarranted. According to Doar, the footage shows an agent removing a firearm from Pretti’s holster prior to the shooting, leading him to conclude that the use of deadly force was not justified. “If Mr. Pretti was disarmed — absent any other evidence of any risk to an officer — I don’t see how deadly force would be justified,” he stated.
The incident occurred shortly after 09:00 when federal officers approached Pretti, who was reportedly armed with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and two magazines, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The agency claims that Pretti violently resisted attempts to disarm him, prompting an agent to fire multiple shots into his chest. Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene.
Video analysis reveals several masked federal agents wrestling Pretti to the ground before the shots were fired. David Bier, Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, voiced similar concerns, emphasizing that the behavior of the agents in the footage suggests that if Pretti was indeed disarmed, the shooting was unjustified. In his assessment, “There’s no real ambiguity in this case. They’re pumping so many bullets into a person lying on the ground, who’s been disarmed, and was never a threat in the first place.”
The shooting has sparked significant unrest in Minneapolis, with protests erupting in the city as demonstrators expressed their anger over the incident. Witnesses reported that large military-style vehicles surrounded the protesters, who blocked streets with various objects. Federal agents responded with tear gas and pepper balls to disperse the crowds. The protests were fueled by previous incidents involving federal enforcement, including the killing of Renee Good by an agent earlier this month.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated that Pretti had no serious criminal history, with only minor parking violations recorded. He confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner, holding a valid permit. Friends of Pretti described him as a compassionate individual who worked for the Veterans Health Administration at the Minneapolis VA hospital, where he earned approximately $90,783 in 2023. Ruth Anway, a colleague, remembered him as “a really good guy” who did not deserve to be killed.
The DHS, in its account of the incident, indicated that agents were in the area to apprehend Jose Huerta‐Chuma, an Ecuadorian national wanted for violent assault. They claimed that Pretti approached the officers while armed, which initiated the confrontation that led to the shooting. The agency later released a photograph of a handgun they stated was recovered during the incident.
As tensions continue to escalate in Minneapolis, the local police have established a command post to manage the protests. Chief O’Hara has called for peace amidst rising frustrations, highlighting the need for a calm response to a tragic situation. The circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death remain under scrutiny, with calls for a thorough investigation into the actions of federal officers involved in the shooting.
