A preliminary government review contradicts the Trump administration’s initial narrative regarding the shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti last week in Minneapolis.
Pretti’s death at the hands of immigration officers has escalated tensions surrounding the administration’s immigration enforcement surge and has already prompted bipartisan calls for an investigation. Notably, Pretti was the second U.S. citizen killed by immigration officers in Minneapolis this month.
According to the preliminary assessment, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stated that Pretti resisted arrest before two officers shot him. However, the review makes no mention of Pretti attacking officers or threatening them with a weapon, as the administration initially described the incident. Instead, the account appears to align more closely with multiple bystander videos and witness testimony.
The preliminary assessment, known as a death notification, was shared by congressional sources not authorized to speak publicly and reviewed by NPR. It was based on body-worn camera footage and agency documentation.
### Incident Details
The CBP assessment describes how officers were initially confronted by two women blowing whistles during an immigration enforcement operation. One officer pushed the women away, and one of the females ran to a male later identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. citizen.
The officer attempted to move the woman and Pretti out of the roadway, but they did not comply. The review states that the officer then sprayed both individuals with oleoresin capsicum spray, commonly known as pepper spray.
CBP officers tried to take Pretti into custody, but he resisted, leading to a struggle. During the altercation, an agent shouted multiple times, “He’s got a gun!” Approximately five seconds later, one agent discharged his CBP-issued Glock 19, and another fired a CBP-issued Glock 47 at Pretti.
Following the shooting, an agent reported having Pretti’s firearm in his possession.
### Contradictions and Reactions
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem quickly described Pretti’s actions as “domestic terrorism,” asserting that he was “attacking” officers and “brandishing” a weapon prior to being shot. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller labeled Pretti a “would-be-assassin.”
However, several bystander videos and witness accounts contradict this portrayal. Pretti can be seen holding only a phone before at least six officers tackle him, pinning him face down on the ground, and shooting him in the back—firing what sounds like approximately ten shots. One eyewitness noted in a court document that Pretti was not facing the agents when they grabbed him and that he “didn’t look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help [a] woman up.”
Noem has faced bipartisan criticism for her swift characterization of the incident. In Washington, Democrats are pushing to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies in response to the shooting and the administration’s handling of it. Some Republicans, including Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and John Curtis of Utah, have also criticized Noem’s immediate efforts to blame Pretti, with others calling for a full investigation.
### Ongoing Investigations
The assessment of Pretti’s death was conducted by CBP’s internal oversight office, the Office of Professional Responsibility, which cautions that information may be updated as more details emerge.
Additionally, Homeland Security Investigations—a branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement—is investigating the incident. The case is also under review by the Office of Professional Responsibility’s Investigative Operations Directorate, tasked with investigating employee misconduct.
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/27/g-s1-107608/alex-pretti-death-internal-review-immigration