The DHS preliminary report says two Border Patrol officers fired their service weapons during a struggle that resulted in the death of 37‑year‑old Alex Pretti. The CBP account notes an agent repeatedly shouted that Pretti had a gun and that one officer fired a Glock 19 while another fired a Glock 47 roughly five seconds later. Officers applied chest seals and EMS arrived minutes later; the report does not confirm whether both officers’ rounds struck Pretti. The shooting has prompted sharp political reactions and is part of an ongoing investigation.
DHS Preliminary Report: Two Border Patrol Agents Fired During Fatal Struggle With Nurse Alex Pretti
The Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis has so far killed two American citizens: Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, both 37. / Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
The Department of Homeland Security’s preliminary report says two Border Patrol officers discharged their service weapons during a struggle that led to the weekend death of 37‑year‑old nurse Alex Pretti.
The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) document, produced by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility and shared with congressional staff, says one officer repeatedly shouted that Pretti had a gun before two CBP personnel opened fire. The account differs from an earlier DHS statement that said only "an agent fired defensive shots." The preliminary report is intended as an initial factual outline and does not present final investigative conclusions.
What the Report Describes
According to the document, CBP officers were approached Saturday morning by two women blowing whistles. Officers ordered the women off the roadway; the report says they did not comply. A CBP officer pushed both women away, and one of the women ran to Alex Jeffrey Pretti. When officers attempted to move the woman and Pretti, they did not leave the roadway and an officer deployed pepper spray on both individuals.
CBP personnel then attempted to take Pretti into custody. The report states that Pretti resisted and a struggle ensued. During that struggle, a Border Patrol agent shouted, "He's got a gun!" multiple times. About five seconds later, a Border Patrol agent discharged a CBP‑issued Glock 19 and a CBP officer (CBPO) discharged a CBP‑issued Glock 47.
Marchers in downtown Minneapolis last Friday—before Pretti was killed—waved signs decrying ongoing immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities metro area. / Star Tribune via Getty Images / Star Tribune via Getty Images
After the shooting, CBP personnel cut Pretti’s clothing and applied chest seals to his wounds; emergency medical services arrived minutes later. One Border Patrol agent told investigators he had possession of Pretti’s firearm and later cleared and secured it in his vehicle. The preliminary report does not specify whether bullets fired by both officers struck Pretti.
Response And Context
A CBP spokesperson emphasized that the preliminary report is part of standard protocol and provides an initial factual outline rather than analytical findings. The shooting prompted immediate and sharp political reactions while formal investigations remain ongoing.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly accused Pretti of "domestic terrorism," and top White House aide Stephen Miller also called him a "domestic terrorist" who "tried to assassinate federal law enforcement." Former Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino characterized the incident as an attempt to "massacre law enforcement." President Trump took a comparatively softer tone publicly, saying officials would "de‑escalate a little bit," though he also reiterated that he believed Pretti should not have been armed. The National Association for Gun Rights disputed the president’s assertion, arguing individuals have a right to carry firearms for self‑defense so long as they do not obstruct law enforcement.
The federal enforcement operation in Minneapolis has been linked to two recent deaths of U.S. citizens — Alex Pretti and 37‑year‑old Renee Nicole Good — and has sparked calls from Minnesota officials to withdraw ICE and related federal agents. In response to the backlash, the president reassigned day‑to‑day oversight of the Minneapolis operation and named Border Czar Tom Homan to lead enforcement there.
Investigations by CBP and other authorities are ongoing. The preliminary report provides an initial timeline and factual details but does not offer final determinations about use of force or criminal liability.
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