Two federal agents involved in the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis on Saturday have been placed on administrative leave, as confirmed by a spokesperson from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The agents have been on leave since the incident occurred on Saturday, following standard protocol. Video footage from various angles captured the moment when immigration agents fired multiple shots at Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at a veterans’ hospital, resulting in his death. This incident marked the second fatal encounter between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and U.S. citizens in Minnesota this month, sparking national outrage.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is currently conducting a review of the shooting. Meanwhile, Alex Pretti’s parents have enlisted the services of a former federal prosecutor, Steve Schleicher from the Minneapolis firm Maslon, who previously assisted in securing a murder conviction in the George Floyd case for Minnesota’s attorney general. Representing Michael and Susan Pretti pro bono, Schleicher is overseeing the legal matters for the family.
The tragic death of Alex Pretti followed the shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good on January 7 by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Good’s family has sought legal representation from the Chicago-based firm Romanucci & Blandin, known for its involvement in the Floyd family’s legal affairs.
Initial reports indicated that Alex Pretti, aged 37, was in possession of a legally permitted handgun, and video evidence suggests that one officer disarmed him before two others opened fire. Contrary to statements by Trump administration officials emphasizing the presence of a weapon, an initial U.S. government review of the shooting did not mention Pretti brandishing a firearm.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that Pretti was shot by a Border Patrol agent and a customs officer after he failed to comply with an order to vacate the street. Following the shooting, top Trump administration figures depicted Pretti as an aggressor, a portrayal contradicted by on-site video footage. White House aide Stephen Miller labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and “would-be assassin” without substantiating the claims.
The review of the incident by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, executed by the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility, was shared with lawmakers to ensure transparency. According to CBP spokesperson Hilton Beckham, these notifications offer an initial overview of the event and do not present definitive conclusions or investigative findings.