Visual investigation, witness accounts of deadly Minneapolis shooting at odds with official statements
Videos quickly emerged showing the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protester by Border Patrol agents on Saturday, and a frame by frame analysis of the footage reveals new details about what happened.
Bystander videos verified by CBS News show the scene from multiple angles, starting shortly before the encounter that ended in the shooting death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an American citizen who worked as an ICU nurse.
The events unfolded on the street outside a local donut shop at around 9 a.m. Saturday. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said officers were there in pursuit of a man in the country illegally who was wanted for domestic assault. Protesters have been trying to disrupt such operations amid an ongoing federal immigration crackdown, and as the videos begin, people can be heard blowing whistles and shouting at the officers.
About two minutes before the shooting, Alex Pretti is seen arguing with officers. He is holding a cellphone in his right hand and apparently recording video of the scene; his left hand is empty.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later said Pretti "approached" officers with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, but did not say whether he "brandished" the weapon. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.
Multiple videos filmed before the shooting show Pretti did not have a gun in his hands.
About a minute later, Pretti is seen standing in the street, filming with his phone and directing a car past him with a wave of his other hand.
An officer then approaches another apparent observer and shoves her toward the sidewalk. She moves towards Pretti and holds onto him by the waist. An officer approaches and pushes Pretti.
A second woman walks over and the officer pushes her to the ground, then sprays Pretti with a chemical irritant.
Pretti raises his hands to block the spray. He and the first woman move to assist the woman who was knocked down as the officer continues to spray.
Several more officers arrive and drag Pretti to the ground. They scuffle as a group of officers appears to be trying to bring Pretti's arms behind his back.
An officer in a gray jacket reaches into the scuffle empty-handed and comes out holding a gun in his right hand.
In another video obtained by CBS News, that officer can clearly be seen removing the gun from Pretti's waistband. The agent is holding that gun and turning away when the first shot is fired just one second later.
Videos show the agent in the gray jacket then running across the street as numerous shots can be heard.
In total, around 10 shots are fired by law enforcement.
It is not clear from the videos how many officers fired shots. But a report to Congress obtained by CBS News on Jan. 27 says two U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents fired their weapons during the deadly incident. The report, based on a "preliminary review" by CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility, does not mention Pretti reaching for his firearm.
After about 45 seconds, at least one officer moves in and kneels next to Pretti, who is not moving.
At a briefing the day of the shooting, Noem shared an image of the gun she said was recovered. She said officers attempted to disarm the man but he "reacted violently," and "fearing for his life and the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots."
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he watched video of the scene and saw "more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents, shooting him to death."
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said, "I've seen the videos, from several angles, and it's sickening."
Sworn statements from witnesses
Sworn declarations submitted in federal court by people who said they witnessed the shooting contradict key points of the events presented by federal officials.
One witness described seeing Pretti observing and filming the scene "just with his camera out. I didn't see him reach for or hold a gun."
An agent "shoved one of the other observers to the ground" and then pepper sprayed several people, the witness said. "The man with the phone put his hands above his head and the agent sprayed him again and pushed him."
The witness continued: "The agents pulled the man on the ground. I didn't see him touch any of them — he wasn't even turned toward them. It didn't look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up. I didn't see him with a gun. They threw him to the ground. Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him. They shot him so many times."
Another witness, a pediatrician, described watching out her apartment window and seeing "one civilian … yelling at the ICE agents, but I did not see him attack the agents or brandish a weapon of any kind."
Suddenly, she said, an agent "shoved him to the ground. My view of the altercation was partially obstructed, but after a few seconds, I saw at least four agents point guns at the man. Then I saw the agents shoot the man six or seven times."
"Initially I was stunned," her statement continued. "From what I could see from my apartment, there was absolutely no need for any violence, let alone lethal force by multiple officers."
The witness then described rushing down to the scene, telling officers she was a doctor and performing CPR until an EMS crew arrived. The man had at least four bullet wounds and no pulse, she said.
