Report on the Killing of Alex Pretti
This report summarizes currently available public information about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota, focusing on: (1) autopsy status, (2) eyewitness medical observations, (3) forensic analysis of the number of shots fired, and (4) what bystanders and videos show regarding whether Pretti drew or brandished a weapon.
All information is drawn from major news outlets, witness affidavits filed in court, and a preliminary Department of Homeland Security (DHS) review provided to Congress as of January 28, 2026.[1–9]
Autopsy Status
According to reporting on the internal DHS/Customs and Border Protection (CBP) review provided to Congress, an autopsy for Alex Pretti is being conducted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.[1,2] At the time of the latest reports:
The autopsy is described as pending or “to be obtained” by federal investigators.[1,2]
Public summaries and timelines from major outlets do not state that a full written autopsy report has already been released to the public.[1–4]
In similar officer‑involved deaths in Minnesota, autopsies are usually completed within days, but full written findings are often released later, after investigators and sometimes the family have been briefed. Current coverage suggests that the official autopsy report had not yet been made public as of January 28, 2026.[1–4]
Eyewitness Doctor’s Observations of Gunshot Wounds
A pediatrician who witnessed the shooting and then provided medical aid to Pretti gave a sworn statement and several media interviews describing the wounds he observed.[5–8] Key points from his account include:
When agents rolled Pretti from his side onto his back, the doctor observed at least three gunshot wounds in Pretti’s back.[5–8]
From the front, the physician reported a clear gunshot wound in the upper left chest and described a possible additional gunshot wound on the neck.[5–8]
Upon first approaching, the doctor said no federal agents were performing CPR. Instead, he described agents “counting bullet wounds” while Pretti lay on his side, which he characterized as inconsistent with standard emergency response to a shooting victim.[5–8]
The doctor checked for a pulse, reported finding none, and then began CPR himself until EMS arrived, while noting the multiple wounds described above.[5–8]
These eyewitness medical observations are one of the few detailed public descriptions of Pretti’s injuries pending release of the official autopsy.
Forensic Analysis of the Number of Shots Fired
Independent forensic analysis of available videos and audio has focused on how many shots were fired and over what time span:
A forensic audio analysis for ABC News by Robert Maher, an audio forensics expert at Montana State University, identified 10 distinct gunshots on the recordings.[6,9]
Reviews by The Washington Post, The New York Times, and other outlets of multiple video angles likewise concluded that officers fired 10 rounds over roughly five seconds.[3,6,9]
These reconstructions also indicate that several shots were fired after Pretti was already on the ground and motionless, though the precise number of post‑fall shots varies slightly by analysis.[3,6,9]
The preliminary DHS/CBP report provided to Congress is consistent with these findings in stating that two federal officers discharged their weapons during the encounter.[1–3,6]
Who Fired the Shots and With What Weapons
According to the initial DHS review and corroborating news reports, two federal officers fired at Alex Pretti, both using CBP‑issued Glock pistols.[1–3,6,10]
Officers Involved
A U.S. Border Patrol agent (BPA) fired his issued sidearm during the struggle with Pretti.
A Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBPO), a separate officer assigned to the same operation, also fired his service weapon within the same brief time window.[1–3,6,10]
Weapons Used
The preliminary DHS/CBP report to Congress specifies the following:[1–3,6,10]
The Border Patrol agent fired a CBP‑issued Glock 19 (9mm) pistol.
The CBP officer fired a CBP‑issued Glock 47 (9mm) pistol, a service variant adopted by CBP.
Together, these two service pistols account for the 10 shots identified by forensic audio and video analysis.
Bystanders, Videos, and Whether Pretti Drew a Weapon
Federal officials initially asserted that Pretti “brandished” or pointed a gun at agents, but multiple bystander statements and multi‑angle videos significantly complicate that claim.[3,4,7,8,11–14]
Bystander Testimony
Court filings and media summaries of sworn affidavits from witnesses near the scene report that:[7,8,11–13]
Witnesses saw Pretti using his phone to record video and help a woman who had been pushed down by agents.
Several witnesses explicitly state they never saw a gun in Pretti’s hands before the struggle on the ground.
One witness described Pretti as “directing traffic” and filming agents, not threatening them with a weapon.
The pediatrician‑witness similarly reported not seeing Pretti attack agents or brandish a weapon, though he noted that his view was partially obstructed when multiple agents piled on top of Pretti.[5,7,8,12]
Overall, the eyewitness accounts filed in court are largely consistent in stating that they did not observe Pretti draw or point a firearm before the shooting.
What the Videos Show
Independent video analysis by CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, CBS, and others has examined several bystander videos of the incident.[3,4,6,11–14] These analyses generally agree on several key points:
Before the Struggle
Pretti is seen standing in the street with a phone in one hand, walking near or around agents and vehicles.
In the clearest angles, he is not holding a gun in his hands as he approaches or interacts with agents.[3,4,11–14]
The Ground Struggle and Recovery of the Gun
Video shows as many as eight agents/officers on top of Pretti, pinning him to the ground.[3,4,6,11–14]
One officer with empty hands can be seen reaching into the pile of bodies. He then emerges holding a handgun, which DHS later identified as Pretti’s weapon.[3,4,11–14]
Around the moment the gun is removed, audio captures shouts of “he’s got a gun” or similar phrases. Roughly a second later, the volley of shots begins.[3,4,6,11–14]
No Clear Footage of Pretti Brandishing the Gun
Across the publicly available videos, there is no clear frame showing Pretti drawing, aiming, or pointing the gun at agents prior to being overwhelmed and taken to the ground.[3,4,11–14]
Analysts emphasize that the crowd of agents obscures some of the critical moments, so the precise sequence of who had control of the gun at each instant remains partly hidden. However, the visual evidence that an officer appears to remove the gun from Pretti or from near his body while Pretti is already pinned contradicts simplistic claims that he was standing, facing officers, and pointing the gun when they opened fire.[3,4,6,11–14]
In short, the combination of bystander testimony and publicly analyzed video does not support the assertion that Pretti was visibly brandishing a weapon at agents in the moments before the shots were fired. Instead, the evidence points to a situation where a gun was recovered from near or on Pretti during a pile‑on struggle, followed almost immediately by a rapid 10‑shot volley from two officers.
Conclusion
Based on current public reporting:
An official autopsy has been conducted or is underway, but the full autopsy report has not yet been publicly released.
An eyewitness pediatrician reported multiple gunshot wounds, including at least three to the back, one to the upper left chest, and a possible neck wound, and stated that agents were counting bullet holes rather than performing CPR when he arrived.[5–8]
Forensic analyses of audio and video agree that 10 shots were fired in roughly five seconds by two CBP officers—a Border Patrol agent with a Glock 19 and a CBP officer with a Glock 47.[1–3,6,9,10]
Witness affidavits and multi‑angle videos do not show Pretti drawing or pointing a gun before he was taken to the ground. Instead, they show an officer reaching into a pile of agents and emerging with a handgun, followed almost immediately by the gunfire.[3,4,7,8,11–14]
These findings raise significant questions about the accuracy of early official claims that Pretti “brandished” a firearm, and they underscore the importance of a thorough, transparent investigation that includes release of the full autopsy and all underlying forensic evidence.
References
[1] CNN. (2026, January 27). Exclusive: Two officers fired their guns during Pretti encounter, Homeland Security says in initial report.
[2] USA Today. (2026, January 27). 2 agents fired guns in Alex Pretti shooting, DHS finds. Read the report.
[3] The Washington Post. (2026, January 25). Videos show agent secured gun from Pretti before fatal shooting in Minneapolis.
[4] CBS News. (2026, January 24). In Alex Pretti’s killing, a sharp contrast between what Trump officials say and what video shows.
[5] Truthout / People Magazine. (2026, January 25–26). Doctor who tried to help Pretti says federal agents counted wounds instead of doing CPR.
[6] ABC News. (2026, January 25–26). Minute‑by‑minute timeline of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti involving federal agents; forensic audio analysis.
[7] The Guardian. (2026, January 24). Alex Pretti did not brandish gun, witnesses say in sworn testimony.
[8] KSTP / Local court filings. (2026, January 24–25). Witnesses say they didn’t see Pretti with a gun, give more details of deadly ICE/CBP encounter.
[9] The New York Times. (2026, January 24–27). In court filings, witnesses describe fatal Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti; DHS review does not say he brandished gun.
[10] NBC News / ABC 6. (2026, January 27–28). Two federal officers fired guns in Alex Pretti shooting, initial DHS report says; DHS report says 2 agents fired weapons in Alex Pretti shooting.
[11] CNN. (2026, January 24–25). Videos appear to show federal officer took gun from Alex Pretti just before he was killed; video, witnesses shed new light on moments before agents fatally shot Pretti.
[12] NPR. (2026, January 25). Videos contradict federal account of fatal Minneapolis shooting.
[13] PBS NewsHour. (2026, January 26). A second U.S. citizen was killed by federal forces in Minneapolis. Here’s what we know.
[14] USA Today. (2026, January 24). “Counting his bullet wounds.” Witness details Pretti killing in court filing.
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