New Video Shows Pretti Spitting At Agents Days Before Fatal Shooting

Newly released video footage appears to show Alex Pretti aggressively confronting federal immigration agents and vandalizing a government vehicle days before he was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.

The video, released Wednesday by The News Movement and reportedly recorded on Jan. 13, shows a man resembling Pretti — wearing a beard, glasses, and clothing similar to what he was wearing at the time of his death — engaging in a hostile encounter with federal agents, according to Fox News.

The footage captures the individual yelling profanities at agents, spitting toward them, and kicking a federal SUV’s taillight until it shatters. He is seen flashing both middle fingers and repeatedly approaching the vehicle as agents exit and force him to the ground.

As the confrontation escalates, agents fired pepper balls and deployed tear gas toward a nearby crowd of demonstrators. Despite the aggressive behavior, the man was ultimately released at the scene.

After disengaging from agents, what appears to be a firearm can be seen tucked into the man’s waistband. Rather than leaving the area, he remained with demonstrators who continued shouting obscenities at federal law enforcement.

Pretti’s family later confirmed to the Minnesota Star Tribune that the individual seen in the video is Alex Pretti.

“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,” Steve Schleicher, an attorney for the Pretti family, told Fox News.

“Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex’s killing at the hands of ICE on Jan. 24,” Schleicher said.

Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot and killed on Jan. 24 while recording federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.

Video from the fatal encounter appears to show Pretti attempting to assist a woman who had been knocked to the ground by agents. He was then sprayed with a chemical irritant, forced to the pavement, and struck, according to the footage.

The video shows an agent removing what authorities described as a suspected firearm — a 9mm pistol — from Pretti’s waistband as other agents fired nearly a dozen rounds.

Authorities said one Border Patrol agent fired a CBP-issued Glock 19, while another fired a CBP-issued Glock 47.

Federal officials stated that agents were conducting lawful enforcement operations when civilians began shouting and blowing whistles, and that the crowd had been instructed to remain on the sidewalk to avoid interfering with law enforcement activity.

According to authorities, Pretti resisted when agents attempted to take him into custody, resulting in a physical struggle. During the altercation, an unidentified Border Patrol agent can be heard repeatedly shouting that the suspect was armed.

The shooting marked the second fatal incident in Minneapolis in recent weeks involving federal immigration agents, intensifying national scrutiny of immigration enforcement under President Donald J. Trump’s administration.

President Trump reacted to the footage on Truth Social, writing, “Such a peaceful protester.”

The video also prompted strong reactions across X.

“Now we know that Alex Pretti was not a kindly gentle nurse… he was a CRIMINAL!!! An ARMED, VIOLENT, DANGEROUS, UNHINGED criminal. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PRISON!!!!!!!” Matt Van Swol wrote.

“Could he have been known to the agents as they attempted to arrest him? Known violent extremist, armed, violent, actively resisting?” Tim Pool asked.

“Just a peaceful legal observer,” Donald Trump Jr said.

As federal and local investigations continue, the newly surfaced footage is raising serious questions about how the incident has been portrayed — and whether key facts were omitted amid growing political pressure on immigration enforcement during President Trump’s second term.