Videos show deadly Minneapolis shooting and political leaders reach different conclusions

Videos were quickly released Saturday showing the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protester by a Border Patrol agent, with Minnesota Democratic leaders saying the footage showed the deadly encounter was the result of an overreaction by untrained federal officers and that the Trump administration was claiming the man provoked the violence.

This is the second fatal shooting in Minneapolis by federal immigration authorities this month. The first, on January 7, involved Renee Good. This was also caught on video and caused a similar schism among political leaders.

Around 9 a.m. Saturday, a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, 37, after a struggle that lasted about 30 seconds. The Trump administration said shots were fired “defensively” against Pretti, who federal authorities said had a semi-automatic handgun and was “violently” resisting officers.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who said he watched one of several videos, said he saw “more than six masked officers beating one of our constituents, shooting him to death.” Frey said Minneapolis and St. Paul were being “overrun” by the administration’s largest immigration crackdown, dubbed Operation Metro Surge.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti attacked agents, and Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said he wanted to do “maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” In articles on X, President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, called Pretti a “potential assassin.”

Saturday’s shooting happened as officers were chasing a man illegally wanted on domestic assault charges, Bovino said. Protesters regularly attempt to disrupt these operations and have sounded their shrill whistles, honked their horns and shouted at the police.

Among them was Pretti. At one point, in a video obtained by the Associated Press, Pretti stands in the street and holds his phone. He came face to face with an officer in a tactical vest, who put his hand on Pretti and pushed him toward the sidewalk.

Pretti speaks to the officer, although it’s unclear what he says.

The video shows protesters wandering in and out of the street while police persist in trying to respond to them. A protester is handcuffed. Some officers carry tear gas canisters.

Pretti returns when the video shows an officer wearing tactical gear shoving a protester. The protester, who is wearing a skirt over black tights and holding a water bottle, extends his hand toward Pretti.

The same officer pushes Pretti in his chest, causing Pretti and the other protester to stumble backwards.

Another video then shows Pretti walking towards another protester, who falls after being shoved by the same officer. Pretti moves between the protester and the police officer, extending his arms toward the officer. The officer deploys pepper spray and Pretti raises his hand and turns his face. The officer grabs Pretti’s hand and pulls it behind his back, deploys the tear gas canister again and then pushes Pretti away.

Seconds later, at least half a dozen federal agents surrounded Pretti, who was knocked to the ground and punched several times. Several officers attempt to pull Pretti’s arms behind his back, and he struggles.

An officer hovering over the scuffle with his right hand on Pretti’s back in one video walks away from the group just before the first gunshot. In the video provided to The AP, the same officer walks away with what appears to be a gun in his right hand.

After about 20 seconds, the first shot is fired.

The videos do not clearly show who fired the first shot. In one video, seconds before the first shot is fired, an officer grabs his belt and appears to draw his weapon. This same officer is seen with a gun to Pretti’s back as three more shots ring out. Pretti collapses to the ground. Videos show the officers backing away, some with weapons drawn. More shots are fired.

The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti was shot after “approaching” Border Patrol agents with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Officials did not say whether Pretti, who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon, brandished the weapon or kept it hidden.

A statement from the agency said the officers fired “defensive shots” after Pretti “violently resisted” officers who attempted to disarm him.

Walz expressed dismay at this characterization.

“I’ve seen the videos, from multiple angles, and it’s sickening,” he said.

President Donald Trump took to social media to attack Walz and Frey. Trump shared images of the gun that immigration officials said was recovered from Pretti’s home and asked “What is this? Where are the local police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect the ICE agents?”