Two federal agents involved in the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis on Saturday have been placed on administrative leave, as confirmed by a spokesperson from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The spokesperson mentioned that this action is standard procedure, with the agents being on leave since the incident occurred. Video footage from various angles captured the moment when immigration agents shot Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at a veterans’ hospital. This incident marked the second fatal confrontation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and U.S. citizens in Minnesota this month, sparking national outrage.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is currently conducting a review of the shooting incident. Pretti’s parents have enlisted the services of a former federal prosecutor with experience in high-profile cases, including assisting in securing a murder conviction against the police officer involved in George Floyd’s case. The lawyer representing Pretti’s parents is offering pro bono services, as confirmed by a family spokesperson.
In the aftermath of Pretti’s death, initial reports from the U.S. government did not mention him brandishing a firearm, despite earlier statements by Trump administration officials emphasizing the presence of a weapon. The preliminary review by U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed that Pretti was shot by two federal officers after he allegedly refused to comply with orders from a customs officer. Following the incident, Trump administration officials labeled Pretti as an aggressor, a characterization that was swiftly contradicted by video evidence from the scene.
The review conducted by the CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility and shared with lawmakers is part of standard protocol to ensure transparency. According to CBP spokesperson Hilton Beckham, these notifications offer an initial overview of the event without presenting definitive conclusions or investigative findings.
