Footage of moments before anti-ICE protestor Alex Pretti was shot reveals new details around death
Topics: US News, Immigration, Gun Crime, Politics
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: CBS Minnesota
Topics: US News, Immigration, Gun Crime, Politics
Footage showing the moments before anti-ICE protestor Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a federal officer has disclosed new details surrounding the shocking incident.
The ICU nurse was fatally shot in the middle of the street on Saturday (24 January) in Minneapolis amid protests following the death of Renee Good earlier this month.
Good, a mom-of-three, was also fatally shot by a federal immigration officer as anti-ICE protests were being held amid the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.
In the case of Pretti, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claim federal immigration agents fired shots in a move of self defence, stating that he was in possession of a handgun at the time.
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Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara has since said that Pretti was believed to be a lawful gun owner, with a permit to carry.
Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told the BBC: "The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted. Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots.
"Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene."
Video footage has since challenged this narrative, however, with there being no obvious evidence that Pretti had any intent on harming ICE officers when he took to the streets of Minneapolis on Saturday.
One video angle saw Pretti with a phone in his hand - instead of a gun as it has been suggested by the DHS - being pushed to the sidewalk by an ICE agent, while another angle saw the ICU nurse standing in the road trying to direct traffic.
One agent can then be seen pushing a woman into a pile of snow, which lead to Pretti going to offer his help.
The agent is then seen pepper-spraying Pretti in the face, and it's not until he attempts to help the unidentified woman again when several more agents come over and push him to the ground.
Other video angles saw agents beating the man, with one clip appearing to see one remove a firearm from the lower half of Pretti's body, before the first shots could be heard after that.
CBS Minnesota reports that at least ten shots could be heard.
Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino has since claimed that Pretti was trying to 'massacre law enforcement', though the man's family have urged others to 'help get the truth out about our son'.
They said: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs."
Pretti's father, Michael Pretti, described his son as a man who 'cared deeply' about other people.
"He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset," Michael said.
"He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street.
"He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests.”