What began as a tense street-side protest in Minneapolis has now taken on new weight after previously unseen video resurfaced.
The footage, filmed days before Alex Pretti was killed, is adding another layer to an already explosive national conversation about federal law enforcement, protest rights, and the use of deadly force.
Newly Surfaced Footage Shows a Volatile Clash
The video captures 37-year-old Alex Pretti charging toward ICE agents, yelling inches from their faces and hurling profanities as they prepared to leave the area in their SUVs.
At one point, Pretti mocks the agents for carrying pepper spray and dares them to use it, shouting, “Soak me,” while continuing to taunt them.
As the agents retreat to their vehicles, Pretti keeps up the verbal assault, calling them names and flipping them off.
Moments later, a loud crash is heard as one of the SUVs pulls away, revealing a shattered tail light that Pretti had kicked.
Chaos Erupts as Agents Converge
The situation escalates quickly.
An agent jumps out of the vehicle as Pretti continues shouting and gesturing.
Several agents then rush toward him, tackling him as onlookers scream in shock.
In the confusion, tear gas and pepper balls are fired into the surrounding crowd before the agents release Pretti and begin dispersing.
Despite the scuffle, Pretti is not arrested.
He gathers his belongings, which had fallen during the confrontation, and walks away.
Observers later noted that, as on the day of his death, Pretti appeared to have a firearm in his waistband.
The Man Behind the Camera Speaks Out
The original footage was filmed by Max Shapiro, a Minneapolis tax attorney who happened to be nearby after receiving a message in a parents’ group chat warning that ICE agents were close to his son’s daycare.
Curious and concerned, Shapiro went to observe.
According to him, the atmosphere was mostly calm for much of the encounter.
He said tensions only spiked when the agents appeared to be leaving and then re-engaged, triggering Pretti’s outburst and the physical confrontation.
Shapiro described the crowd as visibly distressed once things turned physical, with officers attempting—largely unsuccessfully—to push people back amid whistles and shouting.
A City on Edge Over ICE Activity
Shapiro emphasized that scenes like this have become common in Minneapolis, where ICE activity has increased sharply.
He doubts agents would remember Pretti specifically from that day, noting that many residents now routinely film and monitor federal operations.
Even so, he believes documenting these encounters is crucial.
While he admits he never wanted to witness moments like this, he argues that public oversight matters if people are to understand what’s happening on their streets.
Linking the Footage to a Fatal Outcome
Pretti’s family has confirmed that he is the man seen in the video, a conclusion supported by facial recognition analysis conducted by the BBC and The News Movement.
Reporter Dan Ming, who was covering the protests, also confirmed his presence at the scene.
Pretti’s family is now being represented for free by Steve Schleicher, the former federal prosecutor known for securing Derek Chauvin’s conviction.
Schleicher argues that the footage proves Pretti was violently assaulted by ICE agents a week before his death—and insists nothing in that prior incident could justify what happened next.
The Fatal Shooting That Sparked National Outrage
On January 24, Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot ten times by Department of Homeland Security officers in broad daylight.
His legally owned gun was reportedly removed from its holster before an unnamed agent fired the fatal shots.
Reports later revealed Pretti had suffered a broken rib during an earlier altercation with federal officers, though it remains unclear whether the newly released footage captures that moment.
His killing came just weeks after another fatal ICE shooting, intensifying public anger and drawing criticism from across the political spectrum.
Conflicting Narratives and Ongoing Investigations
Initially, Trump administration officials described Pretti as a “domestic terrorist,” citing his firearm.
However, a subsequent government report undermined claims that he ever brandished the weapon.
According to the report, when an officer yelled “gun,” there was no evidence Pretti had touched it.
Video circulating online appears to show an agent disarming Pretti moments before he was shot in the back.
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed it is investigating both the newly surfaced footage and the shooting itself.
The two Border Patrol agents involved have been placed on administrative leave, given mental health support, and reassigned to desk duties pending the outcome.
Public Opinion Turns Sharply Critical
A recent poll of more than 1,000 American voters suggests the public mood is shifting.
More than half of respondents believe Pretti was murdered by federal law enforcement.
Notably, over one in five Republicans agreed with that assessment.
Only a small minority felt the shooting was justified.
What Comes Next
With multiple investigations underway, political pressure mounting, and new footage reshaping the narrative, the case of Alex Pretti shows no signs of fading from public view.
As questions linger about accountability, use of force, and federal enforcement tactics, the coming weeks may prove pivotal—not just for Pretti’s family, but for how these confrontations are handled nationwide.
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