Investigation Finds 15 Federal Immigration Agent Vehicle Shootings Since July
An MS NOW investigation found 15 federal immigration agent vehicle shootings since July. In one high‑profile case, CBP’s preliminary Office of Professional Responsibility report to Congress says two agents — a Border Patrol agent with a Glock 19 and a CBP officer with a Glock 47 — fired after an agent yelled “He’s got a gun!,” describes whistles, OC spray and a brief struggle with shots fired roughly five seconds later, notes an agent secured the suspect’s firearm in a government vehicle without clear chain‑of‑custody documentation, and partially contradicts earlier DHS and White House claims that only one agent fired “defensive shots.”
📌 Key Facts
- CBP transmitted a document labeled a “preliminary review” by its Office of Professional Responsibility to congressional officials, providing lawmakers their first official narrative that partially contradicts earlier DHS and White House talking points.
- The report confirms two federal agents fired their weapons at Alex Pretti — a Border Patrol agent with a Glock 19 and a CBP officer with a Glock 47 — contradicting earlier DHS language that only one agent fired “defensive shots.”
- The narrative says a Border Patrol agent yelled “He’s got a gun!” shortly before shots were fired (approximately five seconds later) but does not claim Pretti approached agents with his firearm or reached for it, undercutting prior statements by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino alleging an attempted “massacre” or assassination attempt.
- The report describes the initial encounter as beginning when two women blew whistles in the roadway, the use of OC spray on Pretti and one woman, and a struggle before the shooting.
- CBP acknowledges a Border Patrol agent took possession of Pretti’s firearm after the shooting and secured it in a government vehicle, but the report does not specify whether the gun was photographed in place or logged with a documented chain of custody at the scene, reinforcing prior reporting that proper chain‑of‑custody documentation for the weapon is lacking.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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January 27, 2026
10:32 PM
2 agents fired their weapons during Alex Pretti shooting, report to Congress says
New information:
- CBP’s preliminary report to Congress confirms that two federal agents – a Border Patrol agent with a Glock 19 and a CBP officer with a Glock 47 – fired their weapons at Alex Pretti, contradicting earlier DHS language that only one agent fired 'defensive shots'.
- The report’s narrative says a Border Patrol agent yelled 'He’s got a gun!' shortly before the shooting but does not claim Pretti approached agents with his firearm or reached for it, omissions that undercut earlier public statements by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino alleging an attempted 'massacre' or assassination attempt.
- CBP acknowledges a Border Patrol agent took possession of Pretti’s firearm after the shooting and secured it in a government vehicle, without specifying whether the gun was photographed in place or logged with a documented chain of custody at the scene, reinforcing prior reporting that there is no proper chain‑of‑custody documentation for the key piece of evidence.
- The report describes the initial encounter as beginning when two women blew whistles in the roadway, the use of OC spray on Pretti and one woman, and a struggle before shots were fired approximately five seconds after the 'He’s got a gun!' shout.
- CBP’s document is explicitly labeled as a 'preliminary review' by its Office of Professional Responsibility and was transmitted to congressional officials, giving lawmakers their first official narrative that partially contradicts earlier DHS and White House talking points.
January 23, 2026