Officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are now investigating a new angle in the fatal Jan. 24 Minneapolis shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents — specifically whether a weapon discharge unrelated to intentional firing may have triggered the deadly series of shots.
Shift in Narrative Under Review
Initially, DHS described the encounter as an act of self-defense, asserting that Pretti approached federal agents with a firearm and posed a threat. Federal leaders said an agent fired “defensive shots” when officers attempted to disarm him.
But multiple news sources now report that DHS investigators are examining whether the first shot may have been an “accidental discharge” — possibly occurring while Pretti’s handgun was in a Border Patrol agent’s hand after being taken from him — rather than a deliberate shot by Pretti himself. That accidental discharge could have led other agents to believe they were under fire and prompted a rapid, lethal response.
Why This Matters
The new line of investigation represents a significant shift from DHS’s earlier account and could reshape understanding of what precisely set off the firing sequence. If the initial shot was unintentional, it may have influenced split-second decisions that ended Pretti’s life.
Conflicting Videos and Accounts
Video and eyewitness reports from the scene have already raised questions about federal claims. Independent footage has shown Pretti holding a phone moments before he was tackled and restrained by several agents, with no clear indication he was brandishing a weapon at that time. In other clips, an agent is seen removing a handgun from the struggle just before the first gunshots are heard.
Ongoing Investigations and Broader Context
The shooting has led to multiple overlapping investigations, including separate reviews by DHS, the FBI, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Minnesota officials have also pushed for independent review and greater transparency, given conflicting evidence and public unrest over the incident.
As the probe continues, investigators are reviewing body camera and bystander videos from multiple angles, seeking to clarify the sequence of events that preceded the fatal gunfire.
