• Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino claimed Alex Pretti wanted to "massacre law enforcement" but provided no evidence supporting the allegation
• Multiple videos show Pretti holding phone with right hand and empty left hand raised when confronted by federal agents
• Bovino did not specify whether Pretti brandished weapon or where gun was located during fatal encounter

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (TDR) — Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino faced intense questioning over his characterization of the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, as multiple sources note authorities have provided no evidence that the 37-year-old ICU nurse posed a threat to federal law enforcement officers during Saturday's confrontation in Minneapolis.

CNN host Dana Bash directly challenged Bovino during a Sunday interview, stating there is "no evidence that he was perpetrating violence" and no proof supporting claims from Trump administration officials that Pretti intended to "massacre law enforcement."

"Despite widespread speculation regarding intent, there has been no evidence produced indicating an intent to harm the officers."

BREAKING: CNN calls out Greg Bovino, and ICE for lying to the American people, and all Bovino can do is stammer and stutter without giving any good answer.

He essentially acknowledges that there’s no evidence that Alex Pretti pulled a gun or assaulted officers in any way. pic.twitter.com/qWjZrT61mX

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) January 25, 2026

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Federal Narrative Conflicts With Video Evidence

Bovino told reporters Saturday that the situation "looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement." However, the Border Patrol commander crucially did not state if Pretti pulled a gun or where the weapon was located when shots were fired.

Multiple bystander videos verified by CBS News, Reuters, and NBC News show Pretti standing in the street holding his phone with his right hand while his left hand appears empty. Video footage from the scene does not show him holding a gun during the confrontation with federal agents.

"Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed."

The Department of Homeland Security claimed Pretti "approached" Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and "violently resisted" when officers attempted to disarm him. However, officials did not specify whether Pretti brandished the weapon, and no evidence was provided to back up claims of violent resistance.

CNN Host Challenges Federal Account

During the CNN interview, Bash pressed Bovino to explain what Pretti did that was illegal, given that he possessed a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun in Minnesota. The exchange grew tense as Bovino deflected specific questions about the sequence of events.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

"We do know that the suspect did bring a weapon, a loaded 9mm high-capacity handgun, to a riot. We do know that as far as what happened in that intervening moment, with the video that you just that you just showed, that's going to come to light through the investigation that's being investigated, and those facts and those questions will be answered soon enough."

When asked by Bash if he was blaming Pretti for being involved by filming the scene, Bovino claimed federal agents were the actual victims. He stated, "The victim, the victims are the Border Patrol agents," adding that Pretti "put himself in that situation."

The CNN host responded with a reference to Netflix's Stranger Things, noting the surreal nature of the argument: "It feels like we're in the Upside Down where we have law enforcement and conservatives who are very pro-Second Amendment saying the problem was he had a gun legally."

DHS Secretary Unable To Provide Evidence

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem echoed Bovino's characterization, claiming without providing further evidence that Pretti arrived at the scene "to inflict maximum damage on individuals" and that his actions amounted to "domestic terrorism."

"This individual who came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers committed an act of domestic terrorism, that's the facts."

When specifically asked by reporters whether Pretti ever brandished the gun before the encounter, neither Bovino nor Noem provided an answer. Later, Noem declined to clarify if Pretti had pulled out a gun before the federal agent shot him.

ABC News reporter Luke Barr asked Noem what evidence she had to support claims that Pretti wanted to injure or hurt law enforcement, but she did not answer the question.

Local Officials Challenge Federal Narrative

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara stated that Pretti had a legal permit to carry, was a U.S. citizen who lived in Minneapolis, and had only traffic violations on his criminal record. The chief noted that DHS had not provided his team with "any specific details" about the deadly incident itself.

"We believe he is a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry. Every peaceable Minnesotan has the right to keep and bear arms—including while attending protests, acting as observers, or exercising their First Amendment rights."

Analysis by The New York Times found that at least 10 shots were fired within five seconds during the encounter. Video evidence shows at least 10 shots fired by at least one Border Patrol agent while Pretti was on the ground.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized federal officials for characterizing events before any investigation had been completed, stating "the most powerful people in the federal government are spinning stories."

"Thank God, thank God, we have video because, according to DHS, these seven heroic guys took an onslaught of a battalion against them or something. It's nonsense, people. It is nonsense, and it's lies."

Pretti Family Disputes Federal Account

Alex Pretti's parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, released a statement calling the federal government's account "sickening lies" and demanding the truth be told about their son.

The family told the Associated Press that Pretti owned a handgun and had a permit, but said they had never known him to carry the firearm. His father, Michael Pretti, told the AP that his son "was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE."

"He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset. He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others."

The parents revealed they had warned their son to be careful during protests just two weeks before his death. "We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically. And he said he knows that. He knew that."

Video Evidence Details

Verified footage from multiple angles shows federal agents pepper-spraying Pretti after he moved between agents and women protesters on the ground. The video begins with Pretti filming as a federal agent pushes away one woman and shoves another to the ground.

Pretti moves between the agent and the women, then raises his left arm to shield himself as the agent pepper-sprays him. Several agents then take hold of Pretti, who struggles with them, and force him onto his hands and knees. As agents pin down Pretti, someone shouts what sounds like a warning about the presence of a gun.

A witness account in federal court filings stated that Pretti was one of three people pepper-sprayed by agents and was attempting to help a woman up when he was tackled by the agents.

"Individuals showed up to impede a law enforcement operation and assaulted our officers. They responded according to their training, and took action to defend the officer's life and those of the public around him. And, I don't know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign."

Background On Operation Metro Surge

Saturday's shooting marked the third incident involving federal immigration agents since the launch of Operation Metro Surge, described by officials as the largest federal immigration enforcement operation ever carried out, with approximately 3,000 agents deployed to the Twin Cities.

The operation began in November 2025, with officials tying it to allegations of fraud involving residents of Somali origin. The surge has triggered daily clashes between activists and immigration officers, culminating in two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens.

Bovino stated at a news conference that DHS law enforcement officers were conducting a targeted operation against Jose Huerta-Chuma, described as an illegal immigrant with a criminal history including domestic assault, disorderly conduct, and driving without a valid license.

The Border Patrol agent who shot Pretti has eight years of experience with Border Patrol and "extensive training as a range safety officer and less lethal officer," according to Bovino.

State Legal Action

The Hennepin County Attorney's office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension filed a lawsuit attempting to "prevent the destruction of evidence related to the shooting of Alex Pretti." They requested a federal judge issue a temporary restraining order preventing DHS officials, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel from "destroying or failing to preserve evidence."

In court filings, local officials accused federal authorities of hastily removing evidence from the scene, reportedly seizing cell phones and detaining witnesses as federal agents ordered Minnesota law enforcement to leave the scene.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated, "A full, impartial, and transparent investigation into his fatal shooting at the hands of DHS agents is non-negotiable."

The American Nurses Association said it was "deeply disturbed and saddened" by the killing, while the federal employees' labor union AFGE noted that Pretti "dedicated his life to serving American veterans" through his work at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.

If federal authorities cannot provide evidence that Pretti posed an immediate threat or brandished his legally carried weapon, does the shooting constitute excessive use of force against a U.S. citizen exercising First and Second Amendment rights?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from FOX 9 Minneapolis reporting on video evidence, The Mirror US coverage of CNN interview, CBS News Minnesota live updates, Al Jazeera analysis of the shooting, NBC News reporting on the incident, coverage by ABC7 San Francisco, ABC7 Chicago, and ABC News live updates, reporting from Yahoo News Canada, KOAT coverage, and Fox News reporting on Pretti.

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