According to a first comprehensive official report from security authorities on the fatal shooting of US citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, two federal officers fired at him during the operation.
January 28, 2026, 05:42January 28, 2026, 05:47
Media such as the New York Times and CBS reported, citing an email with the preliminary investigation report that the CBP border protection agency sent to members of the US Parliament, that first a Border Patrol officer and then a CBP border protection agency officer shot the nurse.
Two officers fired at Alex Pretti, according to an initial report. (symbol image)Image: keystone
The incident captured on video on Saturday morning (local time) sparked outrage and protests not only in the city in the northern US state of Minnesota, but across the country. However, according to the media quoting from it, the report leaves one important moment unclear. There is therefore no mention of Pretti reaching for his weapon – even though the US government initially gave exactly that impression.
After the shooting, the Department of Homeland Security published photos of a weapon that Pretti was said to have carried – and described the case as saying that he had approached the officers with a weapon and posed an acute threat. He resisted when he tried to disarm him. An officer fired defensive shots out of fear for his life, the ministry claimed – even though Pretti was already disarmed at the time, judging by the video footage.
Pretti appeared determined to cause maximum damage and kill officers, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said shortly after the incident. She also spoke to journalists about Pretti brandishing a gun. However, nothing of the sort can be seen in videos from the scene. The US government quickly determined that the shots had been fired in self-defense.
According to the New York Times, body camera recordings were evaluated for the report.
Criticism of the clarification of the case
According to CBS News, the investigation report states that the officers initially encountered two women with whistles during the operation on the street and asked them to get out of the way. When they were pushed away, Pretti intervened and was then taken into custody. There was a scuffle in which an officer shouted several times that Pretti had a weapon. The shots were then fired from the weapons of the two officers.
According to the TV station, the report did not specify whether all of the bullets hit Pretti. After the shooting, an officer let it be known that he was in possession of Pretti’s gun.
In addition to the fatal shooting of the 37-year-old, the way the case was solved has also been criticized. The state complained that federal authorities had denied access to investigators and that the incident should actually have been investigated by authorities in Minnesota.
Since the US government under President Donald Trump repeatedly spreads false claims or at least selectively reports the truth, critics no longer believe their accounts. (sda/dpa)