A new civilian witness account has emerged in the ongoing investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. The witness, a 29-year-old pediatrician residing near the shooting scene, provided a sworn statement that has been filed in federal court as part of legal proceedings challenging actions by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). According to the physician’s account, they rushed outside after hearing loud noises and recognizing that someone was seriously injured. The doctor described seeing federal agents surrounding Pretti’s motionless body, lying on his side with no apparent attempt at medical care taking place initially. Only after identifying themselves and having their credentials confirmed did agents allow the witness to approach and offer assistance. This firsthand account contrasts sharply with initial federal narratives and offers one of the most detailed descriptions to date of the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
The pediatrician’s statement sheds new light on what unfolded at the scene, especially regarding the response to Pretti after he was shot. Instead of immediately administering life-saving treatment, the witness recounted that agents told them they were counting bullet wounds rather than initiating CPR or checking for vital signs. Once permitted, the doctor turned Pretti onto his back and began emergency CPR until emergency medical services arrived. Their testimony is among several that dispute elements of the government’s account and raise broader questions about protocols followed during and after the shooting.
According to the physician, when they reached Pretti’s side, he was lying on his side, surrounded by federal officers, with no visible effort being made to evaluate or stabilize him. In standard trauma care, checking for a pulse and starting CPR are among the critical first actions after a shooting, yet the witness stated that agents appeared focused on assessing the number of gunshot wounds instead. The doctor’s affidavit noted seeing multiple wounds, including at least three to the back and additional injuries to the upper left chest and possibly the neck. With no pulse detectable, the physician began CPR, a measure they continued until EMS personnel took over. This assessment formed a central part of the sworn statement that is now part of legal challenges against DHS officials.
The pediatrician also described feeling shaken and distressed by what they observed—both from the shooting itself and from subsequent crowd control actions in the area. According to the witness, tear gas deployed by agents soon spread into nearby streets and even reached residential areas, affecting bystanders and residents who had nothing to do with the confrontation. The emotional toll on the doctor was profound; they later described being tearful, distraught, and uneasy about the broader safety implications for the community after witnessing the aftermath.
Alex Pretti was an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System and a U.S. citizen, widely remembered by colleagues as compassionate, dedicated to patient care, and committed to community service. His death drew immediate local shock and national attention, particularly because it occurred amid heightened tensions surrounding “Operation Metro Surge,” a federal enforcement initiative involving heightened immigration operations in Minneapolis. Witnesses and bystanders have presented footage and nicknamed the broader enforcement effort a source of community strain given recent high-profile incidents.
Authorities involved in the operation have maintained differing accounts of the encounter. DHS initially reported that Pretti was armed and resisted disarmament, allegedly posing a threat to agents when they confronted him. Federal officials claimed that agents acted in self-defense, insisting that Pretti resisted commands and displayed a firearm before shots were fired. However, video circulating online, eyewitness testimony, and public statements from local leaders have repeatedly challenged this framing, showing Pretti with his hands up or holding a phone shortly before agents forced him to the ground and shots were fired. These conflicting narratives have intensified public scrutiny and amplified calls for transparency in the investigation.
The new witness account arrives at a time when local and national debate over the use of force by federal immigration agents has grown increasingly contentious. Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and city leaders, have publicly criticized the federal response and questioned whether proper protocols were followed during the shooting and aftermath. Officials have also sought greater local access to investigate the scene, a request that was reportedly resisted by DHS, contributing to legal and political friction. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been working alongside the state attorney general’s office to examine the evidence, but tensions over jurisdiction and cooperation underscore broader concerns about accountability in federal law enforcement actions.
Across the country, the incident has sparked protests, vigils, and public demonstrations calling for justice for Pretti and demanding systemic reform. Advocacy groups have highlighted the new witness accounts as part of broader criticism that federal agencies have been opaque in their communications and public reporting, sometimes presenting narratives that video evidence later contradicted. National civil liberties organizations, including the ACLU, have filed lawsuits and legal challenges aimed at preventing the destruction of evidence and seeking independent review of law enforcement conduct. These developments reflect deepening public discourse on civil rights, transparency, and use-of-force policies.
The physician’s affidavit and other witness testimonies are now being integrated into ongoing legal proceedings that could have significant implications for both civil litigation and federal oversight. Lawyers for Pretti’s family and civil rights advocates have used the sworn statements to bolster claims that the shooting was unnecessary and that federal agents failed to follow established protocols for medical care and de-escalation. These legal filings form part of broader complaints against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials, alleging misconduct and violations of constitutional rights during “Operation Metro Surge.”
The presence of multiple videos, combined with sworn witness declarations like the pediatrician’s, could also play a critical role in congressional and judicial reviews. Lawmakers have expressed concern about the discrepancies between federal accounts and independent evidence, prompting calls for hearings, investigations by oversight committees, and restrictions on agency actions until greater clarity is achieved. As investigators review body-worn camera footage, cellphone videos, and eyewitness statements, the official narrative of events continues to evolve, highlighting the challenges in reconciling differing accounts in high-profile use-of-force cases.
For the Minneapolis community and Pretti’s loved ones, the release of new witness testimony has reinforced longstanding questions about what truly happened in the moments that led to his death. The physician’s detailed description of being initially blocked from providing aid, the absence of immediate medical response from agents, and the deployment of crowd control tactics has resonated with many who feel that the incident reflects broader issues of trust and accountability. Families who have lost loved ones in similar contexts, and residents wary of federal enforcement operations, see the testimony as emblematic of systemic challenges in how such incidents are managed and communicated.
At the same time, many questions remain unresolved. Federal authorities maintain that official procedures were followed and that Pretti posed a credible threat, though video and witness accounts complicate that assertion. The ongoing autopsy by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, continued examination of body-worn camera footage, and legal scrutiny from state and federal courts will be critical in shaping the final understanding of the shooting. As the legal, political, and social responses continue to unfold, the witness account of the pediatrician stands as a pivotal piece of evidence in a broader effort to seek justice, transparency, and clarity in one of the most contentious law enforcement incidents in recent Minneapolis history.
