A newly released video appears to show Alex Pretti spitting at federal agents and damaging a government SUV days before he was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. The News Movement released the video on Wednesday, reporting it was recorded on Jan. 13.
The footage shows a man resembling Pretti, wearing a beard, glasses, and clothing similar to what he was wearing when he was killed, Fox News reported.
The video shows the man yelling at federal agents, spitting, and kicking a federal SUV’s taillight, causing it to shatter.
He repeatedly shouts profanities, flashes both middle fingers, and approaches the vehicle as agents exit and take him to the ground.
Agents fired pepper balls and deployed tear gas toward a nearby crowd of demonstrators as the altercation continued, though the man was ultimately released.
After stepping away from the agents, what appears to be a firearm is visible in the man’s waistband.
Rather than leaving the area, he remained with other demonstrators who continued shouting obscenities at federal law enforcement officers.
Pretti’s family 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 Department of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents while recording federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
Video from the fatal shooting 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.
Officials said agents were conducting enforcement operations as civilians shouted and blew whistles, and that the crowd had been instructed to remain on the sidewalk to avoid interfering with law enforcement activity.
Authorities said Pretti resisted when agents attempted to take him into custody, leading to a physical struggle.
During the struggle, an unidentified Border Patrol agent can be heard repeatedly shouting that the man was armed.
The shooting marked the second fatal incident in Minneapolis in recent weeks involving federal immigration agents.
Oh… so Pretti wasn't "just an observer" pic.twitter.com/NDLj0q7ujX
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 28, 2026
President Donald Trump responded on his Truth Social account, saying “Such a peaceful protester.”
And many others responded on 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 said.
This footage is so damning, that you and I both know it will never leave 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 (@mattvanswol) January 28, 2026
“Could he have been known to the agents as they attempted to arrest him? Known violent extremist, armed, violent, actively resisting?” Tim Pool said.
WOW
Footage shows Alex Pretti ATTACKING DHS Agents.
Could he have been known to the agents as they attempted to arrest him?
Known violent extremist, armed, violent, actively resisting?
pic.twitter.com/6Y34cotG04— Tim Pool (@Timcast) January 28, 2026
Just a peaceful legal observer 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ohmGe0WnDJ
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 28, 2026
“Just a peaceful legal observer,” Donald Trump Jr said.
