A newly released video has added context to the fatal shooting of Alex “Lex” Pretti, a 37-year-old man who was killed last weekend during an encounter with Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. The footage, recorded January 13 and released by the News Movement, shows Pretti involved in a tense confrontation with law enforcement eleven days before his death.
In the video, Pretti can be seen yelling profanities at officers and kicking out the taillight of a law-enforcement vehicle. Officers then tackle him to the ground before later allowing him to leave. At one point, what appears to be a handgun is visible in Pretti’s waistband. From another angle, Pretti is heard shouting at an agent, “Assault me, motherf***er.”
Pretti’s family confirmed on Wednesday that the man shown in the video is Pretti. The BBC independently analyzed the footage and reported that the individual “has the same coat, facial hair and gait as Alex Pretti and a facial recognition tool suggests a 97 percent match.” A spokesperson also confirmed to National Review that Homeland Security Investigations is aware of the video and is reviewing it.
The video’s release comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death. According to a Border Patrol report, Pretti was shot during an altercation in which an agent noticed a gun on his person. Agents then discharged their weapons. The report states that Pretti did not attempt to reach for his handgun before being shot. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has said that Pretti was a lawful gun owner and held a valid license to carry.
The resurfaced footage has become a point of political and public debate. President Donald Trump shared the video on social media, arguing that it undermines claims that Pretti was a “peaceful protester.” In contrast, several Minnesota politicians have criticized the use of the footage, saying it risks prejudicing public opinion about the fatal encounter.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressed the issue during a CNN town hall on Wednesday night, questioning the relevance of the earlier incident to the shooting itself. “Are we actually making the argument that Alex Pretti should be killed for something that happened, like 11 days prior to the shooting itself?” Frey said. “I think we should be talking about the circumstances that actually led to the killing and what took place.”
Pretti’s family has echoed that view. Their attorney stated that “nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex’s killing,” emphasizing that the focus should remain on the actions of all parties during the final encounter.
In response to the shooting, the two Border Patrol officers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave, according to Department of Homeland Security officials. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Pretti’s death is the second fatal law-enforcement-related shooting in Minneapolis this month. On January 7, Renee Good was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross after she allegedly drove her vehicle toward law enforcement. Together, the incidents have renewed local and national attention on police use of force, transparency, and accountability, particularly as authorities continue to review video evidence and investigative findings.
