Protests Turn Physical: The January 13 Scuffle (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Minneapolis — Freshly emerged footage captured a heated clash between Alex Pretti and federal immigration officers during a protest, occurring just 11 days prior to his fatal encounter with Border Patrol agents.[1]
Protests Turn Physical: The January 13 Scuffle
Audience members shouted amid the chaos as Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, directed his anger toward a federal vehicle parked nearby. Videos recorded by a witness and a media crew depicted Pretti yelling profanities and the word “trash” at the dark Ford Expedition equipped with flashing lights. He spat toward the driver’s side before delivering kicks that shattered the taillight, prompting an immediate response from an officer.[1][2]
The agent, clad in a gas mask and helmet, exited the vehicle and seized Pretti’s shirt, yanking him toward the SUV. The struggle intensified as Pretti flailed his arms, leading the officer to force him to his knees and onto the street. Additional masked officers intervened to subdue him while others managed a growing, vocal crowd. Tear gas canisters deployed shortly after, and the agents withdrew as Pretti broke free, his winter coat left behind. A handgun appeared in his waistband as he fled, though he made no move toward it.[1]
Fatal Sidewalk Encounter Unfolds Days Later
On January 24, Pretti filmed immigration officers from a sidewalk in the same area, holding his phone steady. Bystander videos showed one officer shoving him backward before a group tackled him to the ground. As half a dozen agents worked to restrain him, an officer noticed the weapon Pretti legally carried and yelled, “He’s got a gun.” Two Border Patrol officers then fired shots, striking Pretti in the back while he lay prone.[1]
Pretti never drew his firearm or struck any agent during the incident. Trump administration representatives described him as approaching aggressively with the gun in hand, but footage contradicted claims of an assault. The event fueled immediate outrage and protests across Minnesota, highlighting tensions over federal operations in urban areas.[2]
Family Attorney Rejects Justification Claims
Steve Schleicher, the Minneapolis attorney representing Pretti’s parents, dismissed any link between the prior altercation and the shooting. “A week before Alex was gunned down in the street — despite posing no threat to anyone — he was violently assaulted by a group of (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents,” Schleicher stated. He emphasized that the January 13 events offered no rationale for the lethal force used later.[1]
Political figures weighed in swiftly. Donald Trump Jr. shared one video on X, labeling Pretti sarcastically as a “peaceful legal observer.” A witness, attorney Max Shapiro, verified Pretti’s involvement and noted that the nurse had confided the details to his family. Homeland Security Investigations announced a review of the new footage, though connections to the shooting remain unclear.[1]
Sequence of Key Moments from the Videos
The recordings provide a clear timeline of the escalation:
- Pretti shouts at the federal SUV and appears to spit toward it.
- He kicks the taillight twice, shattering it completely.
- An officer grabs his shirt and pulls him into the street.
- Multiple agents surround and attempt to restrain him amid crowd noise.
- Tear gas deploys; Pretti escapes, revealing a handgun in his waistband.
- He checks on bystanders, confirming everyone was safe.
This sequence underscores the rapid progression from verbal confrontation to physical intervention.[2]
- New videos confirm Pretti’s active role in the January 13 clash but show no gun use then.
- Fatal shooting involved licensed firearm spotted during restraint, not brandished.
- DHS probes prior incident; no confirmed officer overlap yet.
As investigations continue into both encounters, the incidents spotlight broader frictions between federal law enforcement and local protesters. Pretti’s death as a dedicated VA nurse leaves lingering questions about use-of-force protocols. What are your thoughts on the role of prior behavior in such cases? Share in the comments below.
