New court documents show what happened right after Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Witnesses say they were arrested and held by agents immediately after the shooting. People are now too scared to talk about what they saw because they fear federal agents will come after them.
According to CBS News, Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse who worked at the Minneapolis VA hospital. He was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday morning near 26th and Nicollet on the south side of Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security says the agent shot in self-defense because Pretti tried to take his weapon. But Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz watched video of the shooting and said that explanation is “nonsense.”
One witness was standing just five feet away when Pretti was shot. She filed a court document saying Pretti never touched any officers and wasn’t resisting arrest. She said he was only trying to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed by agents. The witness is now terrified that ICE is searching for her. She said the agencies are lying about what happened and she doesn’t know what they’ll do if they find her.
Federal agents detained witnesses after the shooting
Court documents show agents arrested several witnesses right after the shooting. One man, who asked to be called Javier for his safety, lives a few blocks from where it happened. He came to the scene after neighbors told him ICE was conducting a raid there.
Javier said after the agent shot Pretti, federal agents turned on him and others nearby. They were all arrested and taken to the Whipple Building where they were held for hours. The increased immigration enforcement has sparked concerns as ICE agents target schools and daycares across Minnesota. While detained, Javier heard agents calling those in custody “USCs,” which means United States citizens.
Federal court records show no charges were filed against Javier. He said he was kept alone at first, then put with nearly two dozen other people who were taken from the scene. They were finally given water, food, and medical care before being released.
Despite what happened, Javier said he won’t be intimidated. “My father always told me never to be scared of a person that believes as much as you do,” he stated. “Everybody in this world believes as much as I do, and that’s my sense of security right now.” He said he had to act because of the injustice he witnessed.
“At that point in time, it’s not about me,” he said. “It’s about the cause, our people being protected. It’s about these people coming here to better their lives.” Javier watched the shooting happen. “I watched the agent shoot him,” he recalled. “Whether I knew him or not, he died for the cause.”
This happened less than three weeks after another ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good during increased immigration enforcement in the city. The protests against these actions have drawn attention, with Trump attacking Minnesota protesters on social media. Javier described being detained as completely draining. “It’s just cold all around, bro,” he said. “It just sucks the life out of you. You lose all hope.”
Published: Jan 26, 2026 01:45 pm