A newly released video has reignited controversy surrounding the January 2026 killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was shot dead by federal border agents in Minneapolis. The footage shows Pretti in a confrontation with immigration officers just 11 days before his death.
A Fatal Encounter Caught on Camera
Pretti, who worked as a nurse for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot multiple times by United States Customs and Border Protection agents on January 24, 2026, in what has become an increasingly contentious case. According to a forensic audio analysis of videos from the scene, 10 shots were fired in less than five seconds during the fatal encounter.
“What the videos depict is that this guy did not walk up to anybody from CBP in a threatening manner,” said former acting DHS undersecretary for intelligence John Cohen, contradicting official accounts of the incident.
The two federal agents responsible for the shooting have been identified as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35. Both remain on administrative leave pending investigation.
Conflicting Narratives
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has claimed that Pretti attacked Border Patrol officers before being fatally shot, a narrative echoed by CBP officials in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
“The agents attempted to disarm the individual, but he violently resisted,” said CBP spokesperson Michael Bovino during a January 25 news conference. “Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, a Border Patrol agent fired defensive shots.”
But was this really a case of justified self-defense? The Pretti family’s attorney, Steve Schleicher, presents a starkly different account, particularly in light of the newly surfaced video showing an earlier confrontation between Pretti and immigration officers.
“A week before Alex was gunned down in the street — despite posing no threat to anyone — he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents,” Schleicher told CBS News, suggesting a pattern of aggressive behavior by federal agents toward Pretti.
Questions of Authority and Accountability
The presence of Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, hundreds of miles from any international border, has raised additional concerns about jurisdiction and the expanding footprint of federal immigration enforcement. Critics point to the case as an example of overreach by agencies traditionally tasked with border security.
The shooting has also sparked protests across Minneapolis and in several major cities, with demonstrators demanding greater transparency from federal law enforcement and accountability for the officers involved.
Pretti’s background as a healthcare worker serving veterans has further complicated public perception of the case. Friends and colleagues have described him as dedicated and compassionate, making the violent nature of his death all the more shocking to those who knew him.
As investigations by the Department of Justice and Minnesota state authorities continue, the Pretti family has announced plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the federal government, setting the stage for what could become a landmark case in the ongoing national debate over use of force by law enforcement.
