Agents Count Bullets, Deny Life-Saving Aid

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Federal Border Patrol agents fatally shot an American citizen and ICU nurse on Minneapolis streets while government officials immediately labeled him a “domestic terrorist,” only to have bystander video expose their narrative as a deliberate deception.

Story Snapshot

Border Patrol agents killed Alex Pretti, 37, a VA nurse and U.S. citizen with a valid carry permit, on January 24, 2026 in Minneapolis
Federal officials branded Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” but cell phone footage contradicted the government’s account of events
Federal immigration officers have opened fire 19 times during Trump administration enforcement campaigns, killing multiple American citizens
Medical professionals were blocked from providing aid at the scene as agents allegedly counted bullet holes instead of performing CPR
Trump administration partially withdrew Border Patrol from Minnesota following Governor Walz’s demand, though ICE operations continue

Federal Agents Operating Far Beyond Border Enforcement

Border Patrol agents killed Alex Pretti on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, raising fundamental questions about federal immigration enforcement in America’s heartland. The 37-year-old intensive care nurse was a U.S. citizen with a valid permit to carry a firearm, yet Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller immediately characterized him on social media as a “domestic terrorist” attempting to massacre law enforcement officers. This narrative crumbled when bystander cell phone footage contradicted federal claims, exposing yet another instance of government officials misleading the American public about use-of-force incidents during immigration operations hundreds of miles from any international border.

Pattern of Deadly Force and Deceptive Official Accounts

The Pretti shooting represents one incident in an alarming pattern of federal immigration officers using lethal force during Trump administration enforcement campaigns. Since September 2025, Border Patrol and ICE agents have opened fire 19 times, killing multiple individuals including several American citizens. In early January 2026, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old White U.S. citizen, in her car in Minneapolis. Federal officials claimed Good attempted to run over officers in an act of domestic terrorism, but Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz disputed this characterization after reviewing video evidence. The administration’s willingness to deploy inflammatory terrorism accusations against lawful gun owners exercising constitutional rights represents a dangerous erosion of due process and Second Amendment protections.

Medical Aid Denied While Agents Counted Bullet Holes

Witness accounts reveal a disturbing humanitarian dimension to these federal shootings. Medical professionals at the Pretti scene were prevented from providing emergency care, and officers did not perform CPR. Reports indicate agents appeared focused on counting bullet holes rather than attempting life-saving measures. This pattern extended to other incidents, including the Renee Good case where similar prevention of medical aid occurred. In October 2025, a Border Patrol agent shot a Chicago woman multiple times, then allegedly bragged in a text message reading, “I fired 5 rounds, and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.” Such callous disregard for human life from federal officers operating in American cities far from border security duties raises serious questions about training, oversight, and the appropriate scope of immigration enforcement operations.

Body Camera Evidence Contradicts Federal Claims

Independent investigations by The Marshall Project documented multiple instances where body camera footage directly contradicted official Homeland Security statements about immigration enforcement shootings. In the case of Silverio Villegas González, a Mexican-born cook shot by Border Patrol agents in a Chicago suburb, Homeland Security claimed an officer was seriously injured. However, body camera video captured the agent saying the injury was “nothing major.” Similarly, bodycam footage contradicted the government’s account that Marimar Martinez drove toward officers before being shot five times in Chicago; assault charges against her were subsequently dropped. This systematic pattern of federal agencies providing misleading initial narratives while possessing video evidence that disproves their claims demonstrates a troubling lack of accountability and transparency in agencies operating with lethal authority on American streets.

Border Patrol Agents Killed Alex Pretti. Why Is Border Patrol in Minneapolis at All? https://t.co/U7EhkYYaY9 via @reason

— George Lominadze (@GeorgeLominadze) January 27, 2026

Constitutional Concerns and Limited Government Principles

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression warns that federal characterization of citizens like Pretti as domestic terrorists based on lawful firearm ownership and presence at enforcement locations represents a concerning collapse of protected constitutional rights into criminal conduct. The incident raises serious First Amendment concerns regarding protest rights and the ability to record law enforcement during federal operations. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed Pretti possessed a valid permit to carry a firearm in public, yet this lawful exercise of Second Amendment rights became grounds for terrorism accusations from federal officials. Governor Walz called the domestic terrorist characterization “despicable beyond all description” and demanded complete federal withdrawal from Minnesota. While the Trump administration announced Border Patrol would no longer support ICE operations in Minnesota, ICE enforcement continues with federal presence maintained, illustrating the expansive reach of immigration enforcement far beyond traditional border security missions.