It’s a question that has left both experts and the public scratching their heads: how can multiple videos of the same incident show the same event, yet lead to completely opposite conclusions?
That dilemma has returned to the spotlight after the death of Alex Pretti, 37, a Minneapolis ICU nurse, who was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent just over a mile from the site where Renee Good, also 37, was killed by an ICE officer earlier this year.
Pretti’s final moments were captured by at least three bystanders, creating almost a perfect triangle of perspectives around the incident.
Analysts are now dissecting every second of the footage, trying to answer key questions: Did Pretti’s gun misfire? Was the use of deadly force justified?
Federal vs. Local Perspectives
Immediately after Pretti’s death, the Trump administration framed him as a “domestic terrorist” killed in self-defense by federal officers.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem explained that Pretti was armed, approached officers aggressively, and “reacted violently” when they tried to disarm him.
She described the shooting as a necessary measure to protect the agents’ lives. Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, went further, calling Pretti “a would-be assassin.”
On the other side, Minnesota’s officials rejected that narrative.
Governor Tim Walz called the federal account “nonsense” and described the videos as “sickening,” while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he saw “more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents, shooting him to death.”
Pretti’s family echoed this view, calling the officers “Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs” and insisting their son was being attacked, not attacking.
What the Videos Actually Show
The three most widely circulated videos capture Pretti standing on the sidewalk near Glam Doll Donuts, just a few yards from the shooting.
Around 9 a.m., Border Patrol officers had detained an Ecuadorian immigrant as part of a targeted operation.
Pretti approached the scene, holding his phone, filming the interaction.
Video shows two women talking to the officers.
Moments later, an agent pushed them across the street and briefly shoved Pretti, who engaged verbally with the officer.
When the group reached the opposite sidewalk, Pretti positioned himself between the officer and one of the women as she fell, raising his left arm toward the agent while holding his phone in the right.
The officer pepper-sprayed Pretti, who turned away, and a scuffle ensued.
Seven agents were involved in the melee, which lasted around 20 seconds.
Pretti was struck multiple times, including with a metal can, while the officers tried to secure his arms.
The Crucial Seconds Before the Shots
About two seconds before the first shot, a voice is heard shouting—though the words are unclear due to protester whistles.
An agent in a black hat drew his gun, followed by another officer removing a firearm from Pretti’s waistband.
Video shows that Pretti was disarmed just moments before the shots were fired.
A firearms expert told the Daily Mail that Pretti “clearly does not reach for his gun” and that the removal of the weapon happens before the first shot.
Within about five seconds, at least ten shots were fired, with agents moving around Pretti.
The expert said these follow-up shots “would be the hardest to justify,” noting that each use of deadly force must be defensible.
The ‘John Wayne Gun’ Question
Much of the controversy has centered on Pretti’s weapon, a SIG Sauer P320 AXG Combat pistol.
Experts have raised concerns about the gun’s potential for accidental discharge, calling it “the most dangerous freaking gun that has ever been produced” due to its lack of external safeties.
Some speculate, based on grainy slow-motion footage, that the first shot could have been a negligent discharge as an officer removed the gun.
Others argue it’s unlikely the gun fired on its own.
Rob Dobar, a Minnesota gun lawyer, suggested it’s “highly likely” the first shot came from the officer rather than Pretti. Ultimately, only forensic analysis of the firearm can confirm if there was a misfire.
Legal and Safety Implications
The P320 has faced more than 100 lawsuits alleging accidental discharges, including officers being shot while their guns were holstered.
While Sig Sauer defends the weapon as safe when used properly, past incidents, including the death of Airman Brayden Lovan at a Wyoming base, have raised concerns.
Experts agree that definitive answers will have to wait for Pretti’s autopsy, which can establish the angle of shots and other critical details.
Until then, interpretations of the videos remain contested, with emotions, politics, and legal considerations fueling the debate.
The Difficulty of Seeing the Truth
Even with high-quality video, opinions remain sharply divided.
As one shooting incident expert explained, “It feels like sometimes we accept science and what our eyes tell us, and sometimes people just won’t accept it, no matter what you know, even if it’s what happened.”
The tragedy has reopened discussions about federal law enforcement accountability, gun safety, and how society interprets video evidence—questions that won’t be settled easily.
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