Two Border Patrol agents involved in the fatal shooting of protester Alex Pretti have been placed on automatic administrative leave for a minimum of three days, according to sources familiar with the decision. When the agents resume work, they will be restricted to office-based duties and will not be permitted to participate in field operations.
This action comes amid growing public and political scrutiny surrounding Pretti’s death, which occurred on Saturday during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. The incident happened only weeks after a separate fatal shooting involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in which agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed anti-ICE demonstrator Renee Good. Ross was also placed on administrative leave following that shooting.
In response to Pretti’s death, President Donald Trump called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Initially, officials within the Trump administration sought to characterize Pretti as a “domestic terrorist,” citing the fact that he was carrying a legally owned firearm when he was shot. However, a newly released government report has challenged those claims, casting doubt on allegations that Pretti threatened officers with the weapon.
According to the report, there is no evidence that Pretti ever removed the firearm from his hip. Investigators noted that although an officer shouted “gun” during the arrest, available evidence does not support the assertion that Pretti had drawn or brandished the weapon. This finding contradicts earlier statements made by officials attempting to justify the use of lethal force.
Video footage that spread rapidly across social media platforms further fueled controversy. The video appears to show a Border Patrol agent disarming Pretti moments before the shooting took place. Despite having his weapon removed, Pretti was then shot multiple times in the back, raising serious questions about the justification for the agents’ actions.
Pretti, a 37-year-old protester, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during what authorities described as a targeted immigration enforcement operation. His death has intensified public debate over the conduct of federal law enforcement agencies and their handling of protests.
The government report detailing the incident was released as part of a requirement that congressional committees be notified within 72 hours of any death occurring in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody. According to the report, the shooting occurred around 9 a.m. on Saturday after agents encountered a group of protesters at the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue.
Agents claimed that protesters were shouting, blowing whistles, and obstructing traffic at the intersection. CBP officials stated that officers issued multiple verbal warnings instructing protesters to stop blocking the roadway. Despite these warnings, two women allegedly approached the agents while continuing to blow whistles.
The agents reportedly ordered the women to leave the roadway, but the women refused to comply. The situation then escalated, ultimately leading to the confrontation in which Pretti was shot and killed. The incident remains under investigation as officials face mounting pressure to explain the use of deadly force and address inconsistencies between official statements, video evidence, and investigative findings.
