Crime
New development in Minneapolis shooting death of Alex Pretti
According to Bill Melugin, since the fatal shooting in Minnesota earlier this week, he has spoken with more than half a dozen federal officials involved in immigration enforcement, including several individuals in senior leadership roles.
These sources expressed growing unease and frustration with certain claims and narratives advanced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Specifically, multiple sources said there is significant dissatisfaction with DHS officials publicly asserting that the individual who was killed, Alex Pretti, intended to carry out a โmassacreโ of federal agents or sought to inflict โmaximum damage.โ
The sources noted that these claims continued even after multiple videos surfaced that appear to contradict that narrative.
While the sources acknowledged that Prettiโs decision to arrive armed and involve himself in an active federal law enforcement operation was a serious error, they said there is no evidence indicating he intended to attack or kill officers.
According to available video footage, Pretti does not appear to have drawn his holstered firearm.
Several sources described DHSโs public messaging following the shooting as severely damaging from both a public relations and internal morale standpoint, warning that it has eroded trust and credibility.
Some compared the situation to prior instances in which federal messaging was widely criticized as misleading, saying the response has undermined confidence among both the public and rank-and-file personnel.
One source characterized DHSโs handling of the incident as โa case study in how not to conduct crisis communications.โ Others expressed deep frustration, with one saying the agencyโs response has worsened the situation, and another stating that DHSโs approach is costing the agency support and control of the broader narrative.
According to these officials, many believe the incident may ultimately be classified as a โbad shoot,โ describing it as a rapidly unfolding, chaotic situation in which agents may have heard a warning of a firearm, followed by a possible accidental discharge after the weapon was disarmed, prompting officers to fire.
The sources emphasized that agents were forced to make split-second decisions without the benefit of multiple camera angles or hindsight analysis.
While all of the sources said they support the broader immigration enforcement and mass deportation agenda, they expressed serious concerns about how operations are being conducted and how incidents are communicated publicly.
Several also noted frustration that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is frequently blamed for actions taken by U.S. Border Patrol, which operates as a separate agency.
Melugin said he reached out to DHS for comment regarding concerns that the agencyโs rhetoric and public statements have damaged its credibility.
In response, DHS provided the following statement to Fox News:
โWe have seen a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement. This individual committed a federal crime while armed as he obstructed an active law enforcement operation. As with any situation that is evolving, we work to give swift, accurate information to the American people as more information becomes available.โ
MINNEAPOLIS โ Federal immigration agents fatally shot a man outside Glam Doll Donuts near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue during an immigration enforcement operation, raising significant questions about the circumstances surrounding the use of deadly force and the subsequent handling of the scene.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), officers discharged their firearms after encountering a man who was allegedly armed with a handgun and who, authorities claim, โviolently resistedโ when agents attempted to disarm him.
DHS has stated that the shots were fired in self-defense during the confrontation and that a firearm was recovered at the scene.
However, portions of the incident captured on bystander video and described in media reports appear to conflict with the federal account.
In the available footage, the man is seen holding what appears to be a cell phone, and no visible weapon can be seen in his hands at the moment officers converged on him and gunshots were fired.
There has been no indication from authorities that the man discharged a weapon during the encounter.
Authorities later identified the deceased as a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident.
The Associated Press reported that his parents identified him as Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse.
Law enforcement officials have also stated they believe Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry.
According to multiple accounts, Pretti was present at the location as a legal observer and was filming federal officers during the operation prior to the confrontation.
Witnesses allege that officers attempted to detain him, leading to a physical struggle before the shooting occurred.
Further complicating the incident, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) reported that federal agents initially prevented state investigators from accessing the scene.
The BCA stated that even after returning with a signed judicial warrant, access was still denied for a period of time.
Federal authorities have not publicly explained the reason for the delay. State officials have emphasized that such restrictions raise concerns regarding interagency cooperation and transparency in officer-involved shootings.
This shooting marks the second fatal incident involving federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis during the current enforcement surge.
On January 7, Renee Good was killed after an ICE officer fired into her vehicle during a separate encounter, according to authorities.
The two incidents have prompted ongoing public demonstrations across the city.
Following Saturdayโs shooting, hundreds of protesters returned to the streets despite extreme cold, demanding accountability and an end to expanded federal immigration operations in Minneapolis.
The shooting remains under investigation.
Federal officials have stated that reviews are ongoing, while state authorities continue to seek full access to evidence and the scene.
Additional information is expected to be released as investigations progress.