A newly released video shows Alex Pretti confronting federal immigration agents in Minneapolis just 11 days before he was fatally shot by Customs and Border Protection officers, according to a family representative. The 37-year-old’s family confirmed he was injured during the encounter but did not receive medical care.
The footage, recorded on Jan. 13 and posted Wednesday by The News Movement, shows Pretti alongside other protesters facing federal officers on a Minneapolis street. CBS News verified the video in partnership with BBC News.
In the video, Pretti is seen kicking and damaging the taillight of a government SUV. The vehicle stops, and several federal agents emerge, tackling him to the ground. A handgun is visible in his waistband, similar to footage from the day of his death. It is unclear whether Pretti was detained after this incident.
Later, officers deploy chemical irritants while bystanders shout, honk their horns, and record the scene on their phones. Additional videos from the same day appear to show Pretti in the area wearing clothing similar to what he wore on Jan. 24, the day he was shot.
Steve Schleicher, attorney for the Pretti family, criticized the Jan. 13 encounter in a statement to CBS News. He said, “A week before Alex was gunned down in the street—despite posing no threat to anyone—he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents. Nothing that happened a full week before could have justified Alex’s killing at the hands of ICE on Jan. 24.”
Pretti, who worked as an intensive care nurse with the Veterans Administration, was shot while protesting an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. Videos from that day show him holding a cellphone before being shoved to the ground by CBP agents, one of whom removed a gun from Pretti’s waistband moments before another agent opened fire.
A government report obtained by CBS News indicates that two CBP agents fired their weapons during the Jan. 24 encounter. Officials from the Trump administration described the gunfire as “defensive.”
The agents involved have been placed on leave, a federal law enforcement official confirmed to CBS News. Minnesota authorities noted that Pretti was a lawful gun owner and permitted to carry a handgun in public.
Department of Homeland Security officials said investigators with Homeland Security Investigations were aware of the Jan. 13 video and are analyzing it as part of their ongoing review.
The video adds a new dimension to the scrutiny surrounding Pretti’s death, highlighting a prior confrontation with federal agents days before the fatal incident. Analysts and family members say it underscores broader questions about the use of force in protests and the escalation of encounters between law enforcement and civilians.
As the investigation continues, the newly released footage may be critical in understanding the context of Pretti’s interactions with federal officers in the days leading up to his death. Federal authorities, lawmakers, and advocacy groups are watching closely as more information emerges.
The case has reignited discussions about lawful gun ownership, the limits of federal enforcement authority, and the rights of protesters. Pretti’s family has called for accountability, emphasizing that prior incidents should not justify the lethal force used against him.
The Jan. 13 video remains under review, and federal investigators are expected to consider it alongside other footage and witness accounts in assessing the Jan. 24 shooting. Meanwhile, the family continues to seek transparency in the investigation.