Independent analyses by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal conclude that bystander video of the Alex Pretti shooting appears to contradict the Department of Homeland Security's claim that officers acted in self‑defense. Both outlets provide a second‑by‑second timeline showing Pretti recording with a phone, being sprayed and pinned by multiple agents, and then being shot rapidly while restrained. Each review reports roughly 10 shots fired within about five seconds; Pretti died at the scene. The footage raises questions about the timing, discovery of a weapon and the immediacy of any alleged threat.
NYT and WSJ Frame‑By‑Frame Reviews Say Video Appears To Contradict DHS Account Of Alex Pretti Shooting
Stunning New Close-Range Video Of Trump Feds Shooting Man
Both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal published detailed, frame‑by‑frame examinations of bystander video showing U.S. border patrol officers shooting Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Each outlet concluded that the visual record appears to conflict with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Trump administration account that officers fired in self‑defense after Pretti approached them armed.
Key Details From the Frame‑By‑Frame Reviews
The footage widely circulated online shows Pretti holding a phone and recording when officers sprayed him with a chemical agent, wrestled him to the ground and then shot him multiple times. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly characterized Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" who had "brandished" a weapon and intended to "kill law enforcement."
- ~25 seconds before the shooting: Pretti is seen holding a phone in one hand while raising the other hand to shield his face from spray.
- ~17 seconds before: Several agents grab at Pretti while he still holds the phone; additional agents move in and try to pin him to the ground.
- ~11 seconds before: About seven agents surround Pretti; some wrestle him down while another agent repeatedly strikes him with a pepper‑spray canister.
- ~1 second before: One agent appears to pull a handgun from near Pretti's right hip and moves away with what looks like the recovered weapon; another agent draws a firearm and points it at Pretti's back.
- Shooting sequence: While Pretti is on his knees and restrained, an agent standing over him appears to fire a close‑range shot followed immediately by multiple additional shots. Both papers report roughly 10 shots fired within about five seconds; Pretti died at the scene.
"The footage seems to contradict the Department of Homeland Security's account of the event," The New York Times wrote, noting the timing of the struggle, the discovery and handling of a weapon, and the rapid sequence of gunfire while Pretti was restrained.
The Wall Street Journal reached similar conclusions after verifying and reviewing multiple bystander videos, reporting that an officer appears to pull a handgun away from Pretti and then fire several rounds less than a second later.
Context And Caution
Both news organizations emphasize that the videos are an important piece of evidence that appear to challenge the initial government narrative. Independent investigations and official inquiries may consider additional material — such as body‑camera footage, forensic analysis and firsthand testimony — to build a fuller record of what happened.
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