Federal Authorities Shift Blame for Border Patrol Shooting of US Citizen to Minnesota Officials
A US citizen was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis, sparking outrage and calls for accountability from federal authorities. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, was fatally shot on Saturday after approaching agents with a firearm.
President Trump's Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins, quickly shifted blame to Minnesota officials, stating that state and local officials' "refusal to cooperate with the federal government to enforce the law and deport dangerous illegal criminals" was responsible for the tragic event. However, videos from the scene suggest that agents had removed Pretti's gun from his hip before killing him.
Eyewitnesses have come forward to contradict Collins' narrative, stating that Pretti was filming agents with a cellphone when he was forced to the ground and shot multiple times. Two witnesses, including a licensed pediatrician who attempted to render medical aid after agents initially blocked access to the victim, corroborated this account.
The Department of Homeland Security has not publicly addressed the sworn declarations or released body-worn camera footage from the agents involved. In contrast, Minnesota officials have accused federal agents of restricting access to the scene, detaining witnesses, and seizing cellphones before leaving the area.
As multiple investigations and legal actions unfold, Pretti's death has sparked public expressions of grief from his co-workers. A social media post from a colleague, Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, who knew Pretti since nursing school, noted that he would never get to go on a mountain bike ride with him again.
The shooting has highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in federal law enforcement agencies. The Intercept will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
A US citizen was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis, sparking outrage and calls for accountability from federal authorities. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, was fatally shot on Saturday after approaching agents with a firearm.
President Trump's Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins, quickly shifted blame to Minnesota officials, stating that state and local officials' "refusal to cooperate with the federal government to enforce the law and deport dangerous illegal criminals" was responsible for the tragic event. However, videos from the scene suggest that agents had removed Pretti's gun from his hip before killing him.
Eyewitnesses have come forward to contradict Collins' narrative, stating that Pretti was filming agents with a cellphone when he was forced to the ground and shot multiple times. Two witnesses, including a licensed pediatrician who attempted to render medical aid after agents initially blocked access to the victim, corroborated this account.
The Department of Homeland Security has not publicly addressed the sworn declarations or released body-worn camera footage from the agents involved. In contrast, Minnesota officials have accused federal agents of restricting access to the scene, detaining witnesses, and seizing cellphones before leaving the area.
As multiple investigations and legal actions unfold, Pretti's death has sparked public expressions of grief from his co-workers. A social media post from a colleague, Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, who knew Pretti since nursing school, noted that he would never get to go on a mountain bike ride with him again.
The shooting has highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in federal law enforcement agencies. The Intercept will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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. So, basically, a US citizen is killed by a Border Patrol agent and now the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is trying to shift blame to Minnesota officials? That doesn't add up at all 
. The videos from the scene are clear - agents removed Pretti's gun before killing him. But Collins is saying that state and local officials' refusal to cooperate with the feds is what caused the tragedy? I need to see some concrete evidence for this claim, dude 
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. I'm definitely keeping an eye on this developing story 
this is just getting uglier by the minute. I mean, come on, blaming Minnesota officials for a US citizen's death? That's just plain ridiculous 
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. Meanwhile, witnesses are coming forward saying the opposite of what federal officials are claiming. This whole thing reeks of a massive cover-up 
. My heart goes out to Pretti's family and friends – this guy was just doing his job as a nurse 
, and he got killed by some overzealous fed agents 
this is so messed up... I mean, think about it - some guy just trying to do his job as a nurse and gets shot by the very people he's supposed to trust? 
This is insane! First off, blaming Minnesota officials for a US citizen being killed by Border Patrol agents is just laughable 
it's like they're trying to spin the narrative and shift the blame from their own incompetence. And can we talk about how Doug Collins is just trying to save his own face? 
We need to hold our law enforcement agencies accountable for this kind of thing. This is not okay. 
They're trying to cover it up, but we can see what really went down from the vids. It's not like they were just protecting themselves or anything... they had no reason to shoot him. 
The fact that they took his gun and then shot him anyway is just insane. This is why we need more oversight, you know? Like, someone's gotta hold these guys accountable. 