Governor Kristi Noem said she is "grieved" for the family of 37-year-old Alex Pretti and vowed a thorough investigation into a Border Patrol-related shooting in Minneapolis. She cautioned that confrontations involving armed individuals and lack of identification can escalate and defended law enforcement's difficult role. Pretti's parents strongly disputed official accounts, calling them "sickening lies" and saying he was unarmed and trying to protect a woman. Investigators will review bodycam and other evidence as the case faces heightened public scrutiny.
Noem Vows Thorough Probe After Minneapolis Border Patrol-Related Shooting, Expresses Sympathy
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem participates in a roundtable discussion with local ranchers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees in Brownsville, Texas, on Jan. 7.(Getty Images)
Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota, said Sunday she is "grieved" for the family of 37-year-old Alex Pretti and pledged a thorough investigation into a Border Patrol-related shooting in Minneapolis, while also questioning some actions that occurred at the scene.
Details
Noem expressed sympathy during an interview on "The Sunday Briefing," saying, "I'm grieved for them. I truly am. I can't even imagine losing a child." She warned that confrontations in which individuals obstruct law enforcement, appear armed and lack identification can escalate into violence.
This undated photo provided by Michael Pretti shows Alex J. Pretti, the man who was shot by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24.
"We can't have individuals that are impeding law enforcement operations and then showing up with guns and weapons and no ID and confronting law enforcement like that is one of the reasons that we see situations like this unfold," Noem said.
Noem praised law enforcement for the risks they take and reiterated that officials must complete a full, transparent investigation and apply the law equally. She has previously characterized the agent's response as self-defense.
Family Response
Pretti's parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, issued a statement Saturday saying they were "heartbroken but also very angry" and rejecting law enforcement's account as "sickening lies." They described their son as a compassionate ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital who cared deeply for family, friends and veterans.
"Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed," the couple wrote.
Next Steps And Context
The competing accounts underscore the need for investigators to establish a clear factual record. Authorities are expected to review bodycam footage, witness statements and other evidence as part of an internal review and possible external inquiries. Given the involvement of federal immigration enforcement and the family's public allegations, the case is likely to attract intense public and political scrutiny.
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