Alex Pretti killing testimony emerged after two witnesses swore under oath that the Minneapolis nurse never brandished a gun when approaching federal agents during the fatal confrontation.
The sworn statements directly challenge official claims portraying Pretti as a dangerous gunman, reframing the incident as a disputed use of lethal force during immigration enforcement operations.
Alex Pretti, a thirty seven year old intensive care nurse, was shot dead during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis that escalated rapidly amid protest monitoring.
Two independent witnesses submitted affidavits describing how Pretti approached officers calmly while attempting to help a woman agents had previously shoved to the ground.
Their testimony was filed in federal court as part of a civil rights lawsuit challenging the conduct of homeland security officials directing immigration enforcement in the city.
One witness, a children’s entertainer who filmed the shooting, said she approached the scene to document federal activity affecting her community.
“I’ve been involved in observing in my community, because it is so important to document what ICE is doing to my neighbors,” she stated in sworn testimony.
She described seeing Pretti move toward officers not with aggression, but to assist another observer who had been knocked down moments earlier.
“I didn’t see him touch any of them,” she testified. “He wasn’t even turned toward them. It didn’t look like he was trying to resist.”
According to her account, Pretti never displayed a weapon and did not threaten agents in any way during the encounter.
“I didn’t see him with a gun,” she said. “He was just trying to help the woman up.”
She stated that after Pretti was taken to the ground by multiple agents, officers began firing while he was already prone.
“Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him,” she testified. “They shot him so many times.”
The witness said the shooting left her shocked and confused, insisting there was no visible justification for the gunfire.
“I don’t know why they shot him,” she said. “He was only helping. I was five feet from him and they just shot him.”
She directly disputed official statements released after the killing, calling them false and misleading.
“I have read the statement from DHS about what happened and it is wrong,” she testified. “The man did not approach the agents with a gun.”
She added that Pretti approached officers holding a camera, not a weapon, while trying to assist someone on the ground.
“He approached them with a camera,” she said. “They’re not telling the truth about what happened.”
The witness also expressed fear following the shooting, stating she believed agents were attempting to locate her.
“I feel afraid,” she said. “I don’t feel like I can go home because I heard agents were looking for me.”
A second witness, a twenty nine year old physician, observed the shooting from an apartment window overlooking the scene.
The doctor testified that Pretti was yelling but never attacked officers or displayed a firearm before shots were fired.
“I did not see him attack the agents or brandish a weapon of any kind,” the physician stated.
After the shooting, the doctor attempted to render emergency medical assistance but was initially prevented from reaching the victim.
“At first the ICE agents wouldn’t let me through,” the physician testified.
The doctor noted that none of the nearby agents appeared to be administering CPR or checking vital signs.
“None of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR,” the testimony stated.
When finally allowed access, the physician described officers focusing on bullet wounds rather than lifesaving measures.
“They appeared to be counting his bullet wounds,” the doctor testified.
The physician identified at least three gunshot wounds in Pretti’s back, along with additional wounds to his chest and possibly neck.
“I checked for a pulse, but I did not feel one,” the physician said.
These sworn accounts directly contradict federal claims that Pretti was a gunman who threatened officers during the Minneapolis operation.
Senior officials described the shooting as self defense, alleging Pretti approached agents while brandishing a firearm.
Video evidence reviewed by journalists aligns more closely with witness testimony, showing Pretti holding a camera rather than a gun.
Civil liberties advocates argue the case highlights excessive force and narrative manipulation following fatal federal encounters.
Alex Pretti killing testimony has intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics and the credibility of official post incident statements.
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