Report: Two Federal Agents Fired Weapons in Alex Pretti Shooting

• Jan 28, 2026

A preliminary government report shows that two U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents fired their weapons during the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti. The report, sent to Congress on Tuesday, offers the most detailed official account yet of the incident, without claiming Pretti reached for his firearm.

According to the report, CBP agents were conducting an operation in Minneapolis on Saturday morning when they encountered two women blowing whistles in the roadway. An officer ordered the women to move, but when they did not comply, he pushed them aside. One of the women ran toward Pretti, 37, who also did not leave the roadway. The officer deployed oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, and CBP personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody.

A struggle ensued, and during the confrontation, a Border Patrol agent repeatedly shouted, “He’s got a gun!” About five seconds later, two agents discharged their firearms—one using a Glock 19 and the other a Glock 47. After the shooting, a Border Patrol agent took possession of Pretti’s firearm and later secured it in a government vehicle. The report does not provide details about whether the gun was photographed or logged according to standard chain-of-custody procedures, raising concerns about evidence handling.

The CBP report differs from initial Department of Homeland Security statements, which said Pretti approached agents with a 9mm firearm. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol leadership previously claimed Pretti posed an immediate threat, but the preliminary report makes no mention of him trying to use the weapon. Videos of the incident have fueled public scrutiny, highlighting discrepancies between official statements and the recorded events.

Medical aid was provided immediately after the shooting, with CBP personnel applying chest seals. Minneapolis Fire Department EMTs arrived shortly after and transported Pretti to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:32 a.m.

The report confirms that Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the shooting, while CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting an internal review. The DHS Office of Inspector General has also been notified. CBP emphasized that the report reflects standard protocol and offers a preliminary, factual outline of the events without conclusions about responsibility.

The incident marks the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis this month and continues to draw bipartisan attention amid concerns over federal use-of-force procedures, transparency, and evidence handling.