Eyewitness court filing disputes DHS account of Alex Pretti killing by Border Patrol
A sworn declaration filed in U.S. District Court by an eyewitness who was on Nicollet Avenue says Border Patrol agents punched car windows, stopped traffic, pepper‑sprayed observers, shoved a woman, and after Alex Pretti—who the witness says had raised his hands and been pepper‑sprayed—tried to help her up was thrown to the ground by 4–5 agents and then shot despite the witness never seeing a gun; the filing is part of a federal lawsuit naming DHS and Secretary Kristi Noem that alleges excessive force and disputes DHS’s self‑defense account. Pretti, an ICU nurse, has become a focal point of grief and anger at the 26th & Nicollet memorial and subsequent vigils and protests, where neighbors and demonstrators described shock and fear, boarded storefronts and makeshift tributes, and criticized Operation Metro Surge and military‑style federal tactics in residential Minneapolis.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- A sworn eyewitness declaration filed in U.S. District Court by someone who was on Nicollet when the shooting occurred disputes DHS/Border Patrol’s account and is part of a federal lawsuit that names DHS and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, alleging excessive force.
- The eyewitness alleges agents were punching car windows, stopping traffic, pepper‑spraying observers and shoving at least one woman to the ground before the shooting.
- The witness says Alex Pretti raised his hands, was pepper‑sprayed, then tried to help the shoved woman up and was thrown to the ground by 4–5 agents who then shot him; the witness says they never saw a gun in Pretti’s hands.
- Reporters on the scene describe a time‑sequenced, street‑level view of 26th & Nicollet: near‑empty sidewalks and heavy police presence in subzero cold giving way over hours to mourners, vigils, chanting protesters, boarded businesses, flashing squads and makeshift memorials.
- Friends and mourners identify Alex Pretti as an ICU nurse with ties to local hospitals and the south Minneapolis community, and his death has become a focal symbol in protests.
- Coverage details the memorial’s evolution — the size and makeup of the crowd, types of tributes and the tone of speeches and prayers — and notes new chants, signs and organizing themes tied to opposition to Operation Metro Surge.
- Reporters and community members quoted across outlets express shock, fear and anger at Border Patrol and ICE using what they describe as military‑style tactics in residential Minneapolis neighborhoods.
- The filing and witness accounts assert a disconnect between DHS’s public self‑defense claims and what is visible on video and described by eyewitnesses.
đź“Š Relevant Data
Armed demonstrations in the United States are associated with a higher risk of violent escalation and political violence.
Armed Assembly: Guns, Demonstrations, and Political Violence in America — Everytown Research & Policy
Venezuelan households contribute more than USD 10.6 billion every year to the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, with significant positive economic impacts in host countries including the United States.
Venezuelan Migrants Add Over USD 10 Billion a Year to Regional Economies — International Organization for Migration
Venezuelan immigrants commit substantially fewer crimes than the native-born population in host countries, based on 2019 data analysis.
Venezuelan Migration, Crime, and Misperceptions — Brookings Institution
Venezuelan migration to the US is driven by political turmoil, economic crisis, and recent US policies such as the termination of Temporary Protected Status, leading to increased deportations.
Maduro is in jail, but Venezuelans facing immigration limbo feel it's still not safe to go back — NBC News
Since the second Trump administration began, there have been 16 shooting incidents involving immigration agents, resulting in 4 deaths and at least 7 injuries.
đź“° Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Introduces a detailed sworn declaration filed in U.S. District Court by an eyewitness who was on Nicollet when the shooting occurred.
- Witness states agents were punching car windows, stopping traffic, pepper‑spraying observers and shoving at least one woman to the ground before the shooting.
- Witness says Alex Pretti raised his hands, was pepper‑sprayed, then tried to help the shoved woman up and was thrown to the ground by 4–5 agents who then 'just started shooting him' despite the witness never seeing a gun in his hands.
- The filing is part of a federal lawsuit naming DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and DHS, explicitly alleging excessive force and a disconnect between DHS’s public self‑defense claims and what’s on video.
- Details from mourners and friends about who Alex Pretti was, including his work as an ICU nurse and his ties to local hospitals and the south Minneapolis community.
- More granular description of the memorial at 26th & Nicollet — size of the crowd, types of tributes, tone of speeches/prayers, and how it has evolved since the initial vigil.
- Additional quotes reflecting community anger and fear about Border Patrol and ICE operating with military-style tactics in residential Minneapolis neighborhoods.
- Further clarification of how Pretti has become a symbol in protests against Operation Metro Surge, including new chants, signs, and organizing themes mentioned at the gathering.
- Provides a street‑level, time‑sequenced account of several hours at 26th & Nicollet after Alex Pretti was killed, from near‑empty sidewalks and heavy police presence in subzero cold to the arrival of mourners and chanting protesters.
- Captures direct quotes and emotions from neighbors, business patrons and demonstrators who describe shock, fear, and anger at yet another federal shooting in their neighborhood.
- Details the physical feel of the scene — boarded businesses, flashing squads, makeshift memorials, and the contrast between a frigid, almost silent morning and an evening of vigils and outraged chants — which was not in prior policy‑focused coverage.