Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents fired their weapons during the fatal shooting of Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti, according to a preliminary report sent to Congress on Tuesday. The report provides the most detailed official account yet of the incident, which has sparked bipartisan outrage.
The report, compiled by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, details that agents encountered Pretti while responding to a group of civilians blowing whistles in the roadway on Saturday morning. One officer ordered the women to move, but they resisted. Pretti then approached the group, leading to a confrontation.
“Pretti resisted CBP personnel’s efforts and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a Border Patrol agent yelled, ‘He’s got a gun!’ multiple times,” the report states. Approximately five seconds later, both a Border Patrol agent and a CBP officer discharged their weapons at Pretti. The report notes that agents subsequently secured Pretti’s firearm in a government vehicle.
The CBP account differs from initial statements by the Department of Homeland Security, which claimed Pretti “approached” officers with a 9mm semi-automatic gun. The report does not state that Pretti tried to reach for his firearm, contradicting earlier DHS claims.
In the hours following the shooting, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem alleged that Pretti acted aggressively toward federal agents, and Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino described him as attempting to “massacre law enforcement.” Both statements have been called into question based on the new report and videos of the incident.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry, adding to scrutiny over the agents’ actions.
The report also raised concerns about how Pretti’s firearm was handled after the shooting. CBP agents removed the weapon and stored it in a government vehicle, rather than securing it in a standard evidence bag with a documented chain of custody. Officials have warned that this may complicate the investigation.
The shooting is under investigation by both CBP’s internal review office and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations branch—a rare move, as the office historically does not investigate use-of-force incidents. The DHS Inspector General has also been notified.
CBP emphasized in a statement that the report reflects standard protocol and provides a preliminary, factual account without concluding. “They are factual reports – not analytical judgments – and are provided to inform Congress and to promote transparency,” the agency said.
The shooting of Pretti marks the second deadly use of force by federal agents in Minneapolis this month, amid heightened tension over immigration enforcement in the area.
