Alex Jeffrey Pretti -- ICU Nurse Killed by Federal Agents in Minneapolis¶

Date of Incident: January 24, 2026
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Subject: Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37
Location: East 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, South Minneapolis, Minnesota
Confidence: HIGH
Last Updated: February 11, 2026

Executive Summary¶

On January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pretti was filming federal immigration enforcement operations and intervening to protect a woman who had been shoved to the ground by an agent. He was pepper-sprayed, tackled, and shot approximately ten times in under five seconds while pinned on the ground by multiple officers. Video evidence, analyzed by Bellingcat, CNN, ABC News, the New York Times, and others, shows that an agent removed Pretti's legally carried handgun from his waistband before the first shot was fired. The Trump administration's initial characterization of Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" who attacked officers has collapsed under the weight of video evidence and contradicted their own internal review. The DOJ Civil Rights Division opened a federal investigation on January 30, 2026. The agents who fired the fatal shots have been identified as Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez.

This was the second killing of a U.S. citizen by federal agents in Minneapolis in January 2026. The first was Renee Good on January 7.

1. VICTIM PROFILE¶

Alex Jeffrey Pretti¶

Personal Information:
- Full Name: Alex Jeffrey Pretti
- Age: 37 years old
- Date of Birth: Not publicly disclosed
- Place of Birth: Illinois, United States
- Height/Weight: 5'10", 147 lbs
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Citizenship: United States citizen

Education:
- Attended Preble High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Played football, baseball, and ran track
- Boy Scout; sang in the Green Bay Boy Choir
- University of Minnesota, graduated 2011 with bachelor's degree in biology, society and the environment
- Worked as research scientist before returning to school for nursing

Occupation:
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse
- Employer: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital, Minneapolis
- Union Membership: American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE Local 3669)

Legal Status:
- Active nursing license at time of death
- Minnesota permit to carry a firearm (legally obtained)
- No criminal record (confirmed by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara)
- No prior interactions with law enforcement beyond traffic tickets

Activism:
- Participated in protests against the killing of Renee Good (January 7, 2026)
- Participated in the January 23, 2026 Minnesota general strike
- Regular presence at anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge
- Engaged in "whistle brigade" activities (blowing whistles to alert communities to ICE presence)

Colleague Testimony:
- Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, a colleague at the VA, wrote on Bluesky: "Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA. We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse -- I loved working with him."
- AFGE Local 3669 stated: "Alex died while protecting a woman and exercising his First and Second Amendment rights. He was dedicated to caring for veterans and treated them with decency and respect, sometimes in their final moments."

2. THE EARLIER INCIDENT -- January 13, 2026¶

Critical Context: Pretti had a prior confrontation with federal agents 11 days before his death.

What happened:
- Pretti stopped his car after observing ICE agents chasing what he described as a family on foot
- He began shouting and blowing his whistle to alert bystanders
- Bystander video (obtained by Minnesota Star Tribune) shows Pretti amid a crowd of whistle-blowing observers
- Pretti stood in a crosswalk and directed obscene gestures at an SUV carrying officers in tactical gear
- He kicked out a taillight on the agents' vehicle
- Agents tackled and pinned Pretti to the ground; five agents restrained him
- One agent leaned on his back during restraint
- Other agents deployed pepper balls, smoke canisters, and chemical irritants to keep the crowd back
- Agents released Pretti at the scene without arrest

Injuries:
- Pretti suffered a broken rib from the encounter
- Medical records showed he was later given medication consistent with such an injury
- A source close to Pretti stated: "That day, he thought he was going to die."

DHS Intelligence Gathering:
- A DHS memo sent to agents assigned to Minneapolis asked them to "capture all images, license plates, identifications, and general information on hotels, agitators, protestors, etc., so we can capture it all in one consolidated form"
- Federal agents were aware of Pretti before the fatal encounter, though it is unclear whether the agents on January 24 recognized him
- DHS spokesperson told The Hill that DHS law enforcement has "no record" of the earlier incident involving Pretti

Sources: CNN, Star Tribune, The Hill, Esquire, KARE11 (5 sources -- HIGH confidence)

3. THE FATAL INCIDENT -- January 24, 2026¶

Location: Near East 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, South Minneapolis (Eat Street -- a popular food and arts district)

Minute-by-Minute Timeline¶

Based on ABC News' analysis of six verified videos, corroborated by Bellingcat, CNN, and NYT:

Time (CT)	Event
~8:54:54 AM	Activists arrive at Nicollet Avenue (eyewitness video via AP)
~8:55:51 AM	Activists call for assistance after spotting federal officers
~8:56:29 AM	At least eight federal officers gather outside Glam Doll Donuts
~8:57:46 AM	Federal officers prepare canisters of pepper spray; more protesters arrive
~8:58:11 AM	Pretti holds phone in front of federal officer, filming. Three minutes and two seconds before first shot.
~9:00:21 AM	Two individuals (later pepper-sprayed alongside Pretti) speak with a federal agent
~9:00:41 AM	Officer shouts "Do not push them into traffic" at civilian; pushes civilian toward Pretti
~9:00:44 AM	Pretti holds phone in front of federal officer, filming enforcement activity
~9:00:50 AM	Officer pepper-sprays Pretti; Pretti raises hand toward officer, appears to get between officer and person with backpack
~9:00:54 AM	After being sprayed, Pretti falls into person with backpack, possibly grabbing them to stabilize
~9:00:56 AM	Federal officer pulls Pretti into the street, tugging him by the hood of his coat
~9:01:02 AM	Three officers hold Pretti down; another group surrounds him. Officers do not appear to follow tactical arrest procedures (per former DHS undersecretary John Cohen)
~9:01-9:03 AM	Multiple agents pin Pretti to the ground; one agent seen hitting him repeatedly in the face and head
During struggle	An agent yells "He's got a gun!" multiple times
During struggle	One officer reaches into Pretti's waistband empty-handed and steps away holding a handgun (confirmed by Bellingcat, CNN, CBS, ABC analysis)
~1 second later	First shot fired
~9:01:13 AM	10 shots fired in less than 5 seconds
~9:03 AM	Minneapolis Police receive shooting reports
~9:05 AM	Emergency personnel arrive
Shortly after	Pretti declared dead at Hennepin County Medical Center

What Pretti Was Doing (Confirmed by Multiple Videos):¶

Filming law enforcement with his phone (phone visible in right hand)
Directing traffic around the enforcement operation
Intervened when agent pushed a woman to the ground -- stood between them with arm around the woman
At no point in any verified video is Pretti seen wielding, brandishing, or drawing a weapon

The Firearm Question¶

Pretti's weapon: Sig Sauer P320 (identified as P320 AXG Combat variant), 9mm, with threaded barrel. Carried legally in waistband with valid Minnesota permit. Two loaded magazines also recovered.

Critical sequence (verified by Bellingcat, CNN, CBS, ABC, NYT):
1. An officer reaches into the pile of agents restraining Pretti, empty-handed
2. The officer steps away holding a handgun
3. Approximately one second after the gun is removed from Pretti, the first shot is fired
4. The officer who removed the weapon is seen running away from the scuffle with the gun pointed downward
5. When the first gunshot is heard, this officer appears startled and looks over his left shoulder

P320 Safety Controversy:
- More than 100 people have alleged their P320s fired without a trigger pull
- Three people have been killed and dozens injured in alleged unintentional discharges
- ICE banned the P320 as its standard duty weapon in 2025 amid a spate of unintentional shooting injuries to agents
- Sig Sauer denies the P320 is capable of firing without a trigger pull
- Some online analysts have speculated Pretti's P320 may have discharged unintentionally when removed from his waistband by the agent -- this is UNVERIFIED speculation

Sources: ABC News, Bellingcat, CNN, CBS News, NYT, The Trace, Military.com (7+ sources -- HIGH confidence on sequence of events)

4. OFFICIAL FINDINGS¶

Medical Examiner Report¶

Released: February 2, 2026 (9 days after incident)
Issuing Authority: Hennepin County Medical Examiner (Dr. Andrew Baker)

Findings:
- Cause of Death: Multiple gunshot wounds
- Manner of Death: Homicide
- Death Description: "Shot by law enforcement officer(s)"
- Location of Death: Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC)

Note: "Homicide" is a medical/legal classification meaning "death at the hands of another person." It does not automatically indicate criminal conduct.

Internal Government Review¶

A preliminary government internal review, drawn from body-camera footage, was sent to Congress. Key findings:
- No mention of Pretti attacking officers
- No mention of Pretti threatening agents with a weapon
- No mention of Pretti reaching for his firearm
- States that a CBP agent and officer fired their "government-issued pistols" during the incident
- Notes an agent yelled "He's got a gun" multiple times before the shooting
- Conflicts fundamentally with the administration's initial narrative

Sources: Washington Post, CBS News, NPR (3 sources -- HIGH confidence)

5. AGENTS IDENTIFIED¶

ProPublica Investigation (Published February 1, 2026)¶

The two federal immigration agents who fired on Pretti were identified through government records:

Agent 1: Jesus "Jesse" Ochoa
- Age: 43
- Agency: U.S. Border Patrol
- Background: Graduated from University of Texas-Pan American with criminal justice degree; longtime resident of Rio Grande Valley, South Texas; joined CBP in 2018
- Personal: According to his ex-wife (divorced 2021), had become a gun enthusiast with approximately 25 rifles, pistols, and shotguns
- Status: Placed on administrative leave

Agent 2: Raymundo Gutierrez
- Age: 35
- Agency: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations
- Background: From South Texas; joined CBP in 2014 as part of a special response team (SWAT-equivalent unit)
- Status: Placed on administrative leave

Both agents:
- Assigned to Operation Metro Surge
- Names were withheld from Congress and from state and local law enforcement prior to ProPublica's reporting
- DHS declined to confirm the names

ProPublica's justification for publishing:

"We believe there are few investigations that deserve more sunlight and public scrutiny than this one, in which two masked agents fired 10 shots at Pretti as he lay on the ground after being pepper-sprayed. The policy of shielding officers' identities, particularly after a public shooting, is a stark departure from standard law enforcement protocols. Such secrecy, in our view, deprives the public of the most fundamental tool for accountability."

Sources: ProPublica, Newsweek, Minnesota Reformer, Fox 9, Huffington Post (5+ sources -- HIGH confidence)

6. INVESTIGATIONS¶

Federal Investigation -- DOJ Civil Rights Division¶

Announced: January 30, 2026 by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche
Lead Agency: FBI (elevated from HSI)
Supporting: DOJ Civil Rights Division lawyers, Homeland Security Investigations (secondary role)

Scope:
- Investigating potential violations of federal civil rights statutes
- Focus: Whether agents violated Fourth Amendment (unreasonable seizures, excessive force)
- Encompasses events of January 24 and "the days and weeks that preceded" the shooting
- Opens door to grand jury subpoenas, sworn testimony, and potential criminal charging decision
- Evaluated under the demanding "willfulness" standard for federal prosecutions of law enforcement officers

Key context:
- The FBI's lead role marked a major reversal; initially, HSI was leading only an internal compliance review
- The shift elevated the inquiry from internal review to formal civil rights investigation
- Blanche gave no investigation timetable and did not commit to releasing body camera footage
- Blanche cautioned: "I don't want the takeaway to be that there's some massive civil rights investigation"

Disparity with Renee Good case:
- The Civil Rights Division is investigating Pretti's killing but NOT Good's shooting
- Several career prosecutors in the Civil Rights Division and the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office resigned over the decision not to investigate Good's death
- At least 14 prosecutors resigned or announced intention to quit the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office
- This left fewer than 20 attorneys to handle the state's federal cases
- Civil Division chief Ana Voss was among those who departed

State Investigation -- Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)¶

Status: Blocked by federal agents; pursuing collaboration

Key events:
- BCA arrived at scene within ~30 minutes of the shooting
- Intended to conduct routine procedures: establish perimeter, photograph evidence, interview witnesses
- Denied access to the scene TWICE by federal agents
- Obtained a search warrant at 11:54 AM -- still denied access
- BCA Superintendent Drew Evans: "We were once again blocked by federal authorities to go in and do that scene examination"
- BCA "remains committed" to finding a joint path forward with FBI and DOJ

Evidence Preservation Lawsuit¶

Filed by: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on behalf of the Hennepin County Attorney's office and BCA
Date: January 25, 2026

Allegations:
- Federal authorities seized evidence including cell phones and detained witnesses
- When federal agents left the scene hours later, the scene was not secured, potentially spoiling evidence
- Violations of Tenth Amendment -- Minnesota's sovereign right to investigate a fatal shooting in its largest city

Court proceedings:
- U.S. District Judge Alex Tostrud granted a temporary restraining order requiring evidence preservation
- Judge was swayed by BCA Superintendent Evans' sworn statement that federal personnel had already mishandled critical evidence
- DHS had shared photos of Pretti's handgun and loaded magazine that had been removed from the scene and placed on a car seat
- Judge later lifted the emergency order after receiving assurances from federal officials
- FBI official swore evidence was "packaged by trained evidence collectors" and stored in secure evidence room with controlled access at FBI Minneapolis Field Office

Evidence Handling Concerns¶

Chain of custody failure:
- Multiple officials briefed on the investigation said there is NO documented chain of custody for Pretti's handgun
- The firearm was placed on the seat of a vehicle instead of being secured in a required evidence bag with standard identifying details
- This failure could complicate forensic reliability and undermine future criminal or civil rights prosecution
- FBI processed only Pretti's firearm; firearms discharged by CBP personnel remained in HSI custody
- Unclear which federal agency now possesses most evidence in the case

Body camera footage:
- HSI has video from as many as 30 body cameras worn by officers that day
- Body camera footage has NOT been released to the public
- DHS Office of Professional Responsibility was unable to access evidence requested from HSI

Sources: CBS Minnesota, Fox 9, Sahan Journal, Minnesota Reformer, MinnPost, Washington Post, CBS News, CNN (8+ sources -- HIGH confidence)

Hennepin County Attorney¶

Mary Moriarty has stated:
- "Our office has jurisdiction to review this matter for potential criminal conduct by the federal agents involved and we will do so"
- She anticipates having enough evidence to make a charging decision
- Investigating both Pretti and Good killings

Unprecedented legal challenges:
- A judge would have to determine whether a state criminal case can even be brought against a federal officer during federal operations
- If charges are filed, the case would likely be moved to federal court with a federal judge and jury drawn statewide
- State prosecutors describe the situation as "unlike anything the state has ever seen"

Federal retaliation:
- DOJ is investigating the Hennepin County Attorney's office itself
- One probe targets the office's policies to address racial disparities in charging
- Another probe relates to Moriarty's role in the Good and Pretti cases

7. FAMILY RESPONSE¶

Parents' Statement¶

Michael and Susan Pretti (Alex's parents):

"We are heartbroken but also very angry. Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital."

"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."

"He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed."

Legal Representation¶

Steve Schleicher -- partner at Maslon (Minneapolis); former federal prosecutor who served as special prosecutor for Minnesota AG Keith Ellison in the 2021 Derek Chauvin trial; representing Michael and Susan Pretti pro bono
Prior to private practice, Schleicher worked 13 years in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota handling murder, organized crime, racketeering, and federal civil rights cases
Anthony Cotton of Kuchler & Cotton (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) -- retained by Alex's younger sister, Micayla Pretti
Family's position: "Justice and accountability requires a thorough and impartial investigation to establish the facts"
Family called for a joint state and federal investigation

GoFundMe¶

Title: "Alex Pretti is an American Hero"
Organized by Keith Edwards on behalf of Mike Pretti (Alex's father)
Goal: $20,000
Actual total: Surpassed $1.6 million with 35,500+ donors
Notable donation: Billionaire investor Bill Ackman contributed $10,000
If funds could not be transferred to the family, total amount would go to the Immigrant Defense Project

8. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE AND NARRATIVE COLLAPSE¶

Immediate Response (January 24-25)¶

Gregory Bovino (Border Patrol Commander-at-Large):
- Described Pretti as "approaching immigration agents with a 9mm, semi-automatic handgun"
- Claimed "Agents attempted to disarm the suspect, but the armed suspect violently resisted"
- Said Pretti's two loaded magazines and lack of accessible ID "looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement"
- Called Pretti a "domestic terrorist"

Kristi Noem (DHS Secretary):
- Asserted Pretti was "brandishing" a firearm and "wishing to inflict harm on these officers"
- Called Pretti a "domestic terrorist," stating: "When you perpetuate violence against a government because of ideological reasons and for reasons to resist and perpetuate violence, that is the definition of domestic terrorism"
- Second time in a month Noem labeled a person shot by immigration officers as a domestic terrorist before an investigation

Stephen Miller (White House Deputy Chief of Staff):
- Called Pretti a "would-be assassin" and "domestic terrorist" without offering evidence

Kash Patel (FBI Director):
- Erroneously claimed Pretti's possession of a handgun was illegal: "You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines, to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple. You don't have a right to break the law."
- The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus responded: "That is completely incorrect. There is no prohibition on a permit holder carrying a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines at a protest or rally in Minnesota."

Donald Trump:
- Called Pretti an "agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist" (January 30)
- Referenced a video of the January 13 confrontation as justification

The Narrative Collapses (January 26 onward)¶

Video evidence analyzed by Bellingcat, CNN, ABC News, CBS News, NYT, NPR, and Reuters consistently showed:
- Pretti holding a cellphone, not a gun
- Pretti was pepper-sprayed and tackled while attempting to help a woman
- An agent removed Pretti's gun from his waistband before the first shot
- Pretti did not brandish, draw, or wield his firearm at any point

Internal review sent to Congress contradicted every major administration claim.

Administration backtracking:
- Miller shifted to saying officials are evaluating why the CBP team "may not have been following" proper protocol
- Noem was "evasive" while appearing to defend her earlier statements
- Trump said "we're going to de-escalate a little bit" in Minnesota
- Trump dispatched border czar Tom Homan to replace Bovino

Bovino Demoted¶

Gregory Bovino was demoted from Commander-at-Large on January 26
Returned to his prior post as sector chief in El Centro, California
Expected to retire soon (per The Atlantic)
Replaced by Tom Homan for overseeing Operation Metro Surge

Second Amendment Backlash¶

NRA:
- Called Bill Essayli's (First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Central District of California) characterization of lawful carry as justification for shooting "dangerous and wrong"
- Stated: "The NRA unequivocally believes that all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be"

Gun Owners of America:
- Condemned Essayli's comments
- Stated: "The Second Amendment protects Americans' right to bear arms while protesting -- a right the federal government must not infringe upon"

Legal analysis (Prof. Megan Walsh, University of Minnesota Law School):

"They've stood up in court and tried to push back against state laws that regulate firearms -- access, use, carry -- so it's pretty shocking to me to see them now use an example of a lawful gun owner as justification for force."

Irreconcilable precedents noted:
- Supreme Court has held Americans have a constitutional right to carry guns in public
- Supreme Court has also held that police can kill people carrying guns in public with little risk of legal consequence

Sources: NBC News, ABC News, CNN, PolitiFact, CNBC, PBS, CBS, Newsweek, Start Tribune, Reason (10+ sources -- HIGH confidence)

Protests and Memorials¶

Immediate response (January 24):
- Thousands attended candlelight vigils across Twin Cities on the night of the shooting
- Makeshift memorial built at the shooting site (26th & Nicollet)
- Small bloodstain visible on the pavement at the memorial site

Minnesota General Strike (January 23 -- the day before):
- An estimated 50,000 people protested in the streets of Minneapolis
- Hundreds of businesses closed in solidarity
- Protesters braved subzero temperatures

National Shutdown / General Strike (January 30):
- Called as "National Shutdown" in direct response to Pretti's killing
- Organized by coalition including UMN Graduate Labor Union, AFSCME Local 3800, Black Student Union, University of Minnesota Student Government
- Endorsed by 27+ organizations nationwide
- "No work, no school, no shopping" strike
- Demonstrations held across all 50 states
- Supported by Rep. Ilhan Omar and other elected officials
- DOJ announced civil rights probe the same day

Demands:
1. Criminal prosecution and legal accountability for officers involved in deaths of Good and Pretti
2. End to institutional neutrality; expanded protections for immigrant students
3. Abolition of ICE

University of Minnesota:
- Students chained themselves to the door of Morrill Hall on February 6
- Called for the university to declare itself a "sanctuary campus"
- At a campus vigil for Pretti, music professor Stephanie Arado was escorted out by university police for wearing an "ICE OUT" sign

Federal Building Protest:
- At least 42 anti-ICE protesters arrested after chaos at Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis (February 7)
- Occurred after a memorial for both Good and Pretti

VA Memorial Controversy:
- A memorial service at the VA hospital (where Pretti worked) was reportedly told to be postponed

Cultural Impact¶

Bruce Springsteen -- "Streets of Minneapolis":
- Written January 24 (day of shooting), recorded January 27, released January 28
- Folk-style protest song referencing both Pretti and Good
- Calls out "King Trump" and "federal thugs"
- Hit number one on iTunes in 19 countries within two days
- 2.5 million YouTube views on release day
- 16,000 digital downloads in first two days -- number one on Billboard digital sales
- Springsteen performed the song live in Minnesota
- DHS response: "We eagerly await Mr. Springsteen's songs dedicated to the thousands of American citizens killed by criminal illegal aliens"
- Steve Bannon: "It's kind of catchy. Bruce is throwing down for the revolution."

Government Response¶

Federal drawdown:
- Trump ordered 700 federal agents withdrawn from Minnesota
- Claimed increased cooperation from local officials
- 2,000+ agents remained for ongoing immigration enforcement
- 4,000+ arrests made in Minnesota since Operation Metro Surge began December 1, 2025

Governor Tim Walz:

"Today's announcement is a step in the right direction, but we need a faster and larger drawdown of forces, state-led investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, and an end to this campaign of retribution."

Republican criticism (notable breaks with Trump):
- Sen. Ted Cruz: Administration should be "more measured" in describing the killing
- Gov. Greg Abbott (Texas): White House should "recalibrate" immigration enforcement
- Gov. Spencer Cox (Utah): "I disagree with Secretary Noem's premature DHS response, which came before all the facts were known"
- Sen. Thom Tillis: Officials rushing to judgment are "doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump's legacy"
- Sen. Bill Cassidy: Called for "full joint federal and state investigation," said "credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake"
- Former VP Mike Pence: Called video footage "deeply troubling" and called for investigation

Federal Enforcement Statistics¶

According to data compiled by The Trace:
- Federal immigration officers have shot at least 13 people since September 2025
- At least 5 killed, including Pretti and Good

10. LEGAL BARRIERS TO ACCOUNTABILITY¶

Civil Lawsuit Challenges¶

Supreme Court Protections:
- Federal agents heavily shielded from civil liability
- SCOTUS rulings protect agents from lawsuits for constitutional violations (qualified immunity)
- Creates significant barriers to civil damages for the Pretti family

Criminal Prosecution Challenges¶

Federal level:
- DOJ Civil Rights investigation requires proving "willfulness" -- that agents intentionally violated Pretti's constitutional rights
- This is one of the highest legal standards in federal criminal law
- Grand jury subpoenas and sworn testimony are available but no timeline given

State level:
- Hennepin County Attorney Moriarty has jurisdiction to review for state criminal charges
- Unprecedented legal territory for state charges against federal agents acting in official capacity
- Case would likely be moved to federal court even if state charges are filed
- Federal jury drawn statewide rather than from Hennepin County alone
- DOJ is retaliating by investigating Moriarty's office

Evidence Integrity¶

Broken chain of custody on Pretti's firearm
Evidence initially mishandled (placed on car seat, not properly bagged)
Body camera footage from 30 cameras held by HSI, not released publicly
State investigators blocked from accessing evidence
These failures could undermine any future prosecution

11. CONTEXT -- Operation Metro Surge¶

Background:
- Launched December 1, 2025 as Trump administration immigration enforcement operation
- More than 3,000 federal agents deployed to Minneapolis-St. Paul
- Described by administration as their largest immigration action
- Characterized by Governor Walz and AG Ellison as "retribution" rather than legitimate enforcement

Deaths during operation:
1. Renee Good (January 7, 2026) -- 37-year-old poet and mother of three, shot by ICE agent
2. Alex Pretti (January 24, 2026) -- 37-year-old ICU nurse, shot by CBP agents

Pattern of violence:
- Federal agents deployed pepper balls, smoke canisters, chemical irritants against protesters
- DHS memo instructed agents to document "agitators, protestors" and collect personal information
- Federal officers collecting intelligence on protest participants
- Multiple confrontations between agents and civilians preceding both deaths

12. VIDEO AND FORENSIC EVIDENCE ANALYSIS¶

Bellingcat Investigation¶

Bellingcat's investigation team was among the first to analyze the shooting footage systematically:
- Synced three videos and showed them side-by-side on the day of the shooting
- Identified that gun was removed from Pretti's waistband before shots were fired
- Published initial findings on Bluesky, Instagram, and YouTube before full report
- Full investigation published January 25, 2026
- Founder Eliot Higgins discussed need to scale up video-sifting operations

Other Independent Analyses¶

CNN: Frame-by-frame analysis of multiple videos; identified officer removing gun before shots
ABC News: Analysis of six verified videos; constructed minute-by-minute timeline
CBS News: Visual investigation showing Pretti holding cellphone, nothing in left hand
FactCheck.org: Documented discrepancies between DHS statements and video evidence
PolitiFact: Fact-checked Trump officials' claims against video evidence

Key Forensic Questions Remaining¶

Did Pretti's P320 discharge during removal from his waistband?
Which agent fired the first of the 10 shots?
What do the 30 body camera recordings show?
Was there ballistic analysis of all weapons fired?
Were the agents' weapons tested and documented?

13. GAPS AND UNVERIFIED INFORMATION¶

What Remains Unclear:

Full autopsy details -- Only basic findings released publicly; number and location of wounds not disclosed
Body camera footage -- Up to 30 cameras recorded; none released publicly
Grand jury status -- Investigation opens door to grand jury but no public confirmation of convening
Ballistic analysis -- No public reporting on which weapons fired which rounds
Whether agents recognized Pretti -- Unknown if agents on January 24 knew who he was from the January 13 encounter
P320 discharge question -- Whether Pretti's own gun fired during removal from his waistband
Criminal charges timeline -- Both state and federal investigations ongoing without public timeline
Full evidence inventory -- Unclear which agency possesses which evidence
Agent disciplinary history -- No public information on Ochoa or Gutierrez's prior conduct records
Number of shots per agent -- Unknown which agent fired how many of the 10 shots

14. FINAL ASSESSMENT¶

Overall Confidence: HIGH

Confirmed Facts (3+ sources):¶

Alex Pretti was a U.S. citizen, ICU nurse at VA hospital, with no criminal record
He was legally carrying a permitted Sig Sauer P320 handgun
Shot and killed by CBP agents Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez on January 24, 2026
Death ruled homicide by Hennepin County Medical Examiner (multiple gunshot wounds)
Video evidence shows an agent removed Pretti's gun from his waistband before shots were fired
Pretti was holding a cellphone, not a weapon, when first confronted by agents
Pretti was pepper-sprayed and tackled while trying to protect a woman pushed by an agent
10 shots fired in less than 5 seconds while Pretti was pinned by multiple agents
DOJ Civil Rights Division investigating; FBI leading the probe
State investigators denied access to scene twice despite having a warrant
Internal government review contradicted the administration's narrative
No criminal charges filed as of February 11, 2026
The administration's characterization of Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" has been widely debunked
Family retained Steve Schleicher (Derek Chauvin prosecutor) for legal representation
GoFundMe raised $1.6+ million
Bruce Springsteen released "Streets of Minneapolis" protest song in response

Disputed/Unclear:¶

Exact moment-of-death sequence during the ground struggle
Whether Pretti's own firearm discharged
Whether agents knew Pretti's identity from the January 13 encounter
Whether use of force was legally justified under any standard
Whether state criminal charges will be filed
Whether federal criminal charges will result from the civil rights investigation

Assessment of Accountability Prospects:¶

Federal criminal charges: UNCERTAIN. The "willfulness" standard is exceptionally difficult to meet. However, the video evidence is unusually clear, the internal review contradicts administration claims, and the evidence handling failures may cut both ways.

State criminal charges: UNCERTAIN BUT POSSIBLE. Hennepin County Attorney Moriarty has stated she anticipates having enough evidence for a charging decision. Unprecedented legal territory for state prosecution of federal agents. DOJ retaliation against her office adds political pressure.

Civil liability: LIKELY. While Supreme Court precedent creates barriers, the strength of the video evidence and the family's high-profile legal team (Schleicher) suggest civil litigation is probable.

15. SOURCE LOG¶

Primary Sources Consulted¶

Source	Type	Date Accessed
Bellingcat	Open-source investigation	Jan 25, 2026
ProPublica	Investigative journalism	Feb 1, 2026
CNN	News analysis, video forensics	Jan 24-Feb 2, 2026
ABC News	Timeline reconstruction, video analysis	Jan 25-30, 2026
CBS News	Visual investigation	Jan 24-Feb 2, 2026
NPR	Reporting, eyewitness accounts	Jan 25-30, 2026
Washington Post	Legal proceedings, WH reporting	Jan 26-30, 2026
NBC News	White House sources	Jan 24-27, 2026
Minnesota Reformer	State investigation reporting	Jan 26-Feb 1, 2026
Star Tribune	Local reporting, bystander video	Jan 24-Feb 2, 2026
Fox 9 Minneapolis	Local reporting	Jan 24-Feb 2, 2026
The Hill	DHS response, political fallout	Jan 25-30, 2026
PolitiFact	Fact-checking administration claims	Jan 26, 2026
FactCheck.org	Video analysis vs. DHS statements	Jan 26, 2026
The Trace	Federal shooting statistics	Jan-Feb 2026
The Intercept	Legal analysis, terrorism framing	Feb 2, 2026
Sahan Journal	Evidence preservation lawsuit	Jan 26, 2026
MinnPost	Legal analysis, evidence disputes	Jan 26-28, 2026
Wikipedia (Killing of Alex Pretti)	Aggregated sourcing	Feb 2026
Al Jazeera	Protest coverage, misinformation analysis	Jan 26-30, 2026
Just Security	Investigation methodology analysis	Jan-Feb 2026
Military.com	Video context analysis	Jan 29, 2026

Total independent sources consulted: 40+

Disclaimer:

This information was gathered from publicly available sources as of February 11, 2026. Accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Multiple investigations are ongoing. Use responsibly and verify independently before taking action.

Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT -- public sources only