Federal Agents Threw Journalist Clayton Kelly to the Ground and Beat Him for Witnessing a Shooting - The Intercept
Clayton Kelly, a journalist who witnessed an earlier shooting involving an immigration agent, was beaten by federal agents in Minneapolis after he and his wife arrived at the scene of Alex Pretti's killing. Pretti, 37, was shot dead by federal officers just over 40 minutes earlier.
Kelly told investigators that agents shouted "That's him. Get him." as they approached him, before pinning him to the ground and spraying pepper spray in his eyes. Kelly suffered serious injuries, including a burned eye and spinal damage, during the altercation.
The incident raises questions about the use of force by federal agents in Minneapolis, particularly in relation to immigration enforcement actions. The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been criticized for their tactics in dealing with immigrants and protesters.
According to Kelly's account, he had previously witnessed an ICE agent shoot a man in the leg during a federal enforcement action in north Minneapolis just ten days earlier. Kelly had been watching the scene from across the street when agents arrived and began chasing another vehicle.
Kelly said that his wife, Alana Ericson, was also traumatized by the incident, and that she has been having nightmares since her husband's arrest. The couple's experience highlights the risks faced by civilians who witness or document federal actions in immigration enforcement contexts.
The incident is part of a growing trend of allegations against federal agents in Minneapolis, including claims of excessive force, intimidation, and arrests of observers who were not interfering with federal operations. In December 2025, a group of Minnesota residents and the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, CBP, and ICE, alleging that these agencies used unconstitutional tactics in Operation Metro Surge.
In January, a federal judge issued a limited injunction barring agents from retaliating against peaceful protesters and observers. However, Kelly's case suggests that the use of force by federal agents remains a pressing issue, particularly in relation to immigration enforcement actions.
Clayton Kelly, a journalist who witnessed an earlier shooting involving an immigration agent, was beaten by federal agents in Minneapolis after he and his wife arrived at the scene of Alex Pretti's killing. Pretti, 37, was shot dead by federal officers just over 40 minutes earlier.
Kelly told investigators that agents shouted "That's him. Get him." as they approached him, before pinning him to the ground and spraying pepper spray in his eyes. Kelly suffered serious injuries, including a burned eye and spinal damage, during the altercation.
The incident raises questions about the use of force by federal agents in Minneapolis, particularly in relation to immigration enforcement actions. The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been criticized for their tactics in dealing with immigrants and protesters.
According to Kelly's account, he had previously witnessed an ICE agent shoot a man in the leg during a federal enforcement action in north Minneapolis just ten days earlier. Kelly had been watching the scene from across the street when agents arrived and began chasing another vehicle.
Kelly said that his wife, Alana Ericson, was also traumatized by the incident, and that she has been having nightmares since her husband's arrest. The couple's experience highlights the risks faced by civilians who witness or document federal actions in immigration enforcement contexts.
The incident is part of a growing trend of allegations against federal agents in Minneapolis, including claims of excessive force, intimidation, and arrests of observers who were not interfering with federal operations. In December 2025, a group of Minnesota residents and the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, CBP, and ICE, alleging that these agencies used unconstitutional tactics in Operation Metro Surge.
In January, a federal judge issued a limited injunction barring agents from retaliating against peaceful protesters and observers. However, Kelly's case suggests that the use of force by federal agents remains a pressing issue, particularly in relation to immigration enforcement actions.
i cant even imagine being thrown to the ground like that and beaten for just witnessing what happened 
it shows how crazy out of control those federal agents are getting and its not right at all 
my friend was protesting against climate change last year and got arrested too, it was a real wake-up call for him. he thought the cops were on his side but they were literally treating him like a suspect 
anyway i think we need to start holding these people accountable for their actions its not okay to just beat someone up for doing their job 
that's so not right at all i feel so bad for him and his wife alana 
! Can you even believe it?! His wife Alana was traumatized too & now she's having nightmares 
. This whole thing is super suspicious & it's making me so angry! The fact that these agencies are using unconstitutional tactics to intimidate people who are just trying to speak out is just disgusting 
. We need more people like Clayton Kelly who will stand up for what's right, even if it means going against the system 
.
. Clayton Kelly's wife is still dealing with PTSD from watching her husband get brutalized 
. We need to stand together against this kind of abuse of power and make sure those in charge are held responsible 
. This incident is a total red flag 
, and we can't just sit back and watch it happen over and over again 
.
his wife is still traumatized 
it's like the feds think they can just beat people up for witnessing a crime 
especially in immigration enforcement actions 
it's like they're more interested in intimidating people than in doing their job properly 
this incident raises so many questions about accountability 
and the consequences of their actions will have to be faced 
I'm so worried about this situation... it sounds like our country is losing sight of basic human rights 
. And to think he had witnessed an immigration agent shoot someone just 10 days prior, you'd think there would be more accountability in place 
. We need to stand up for those who are being silenced or intimidated by the authorities 
. We can't keep ignoring the problems and hoping they'll go away 
. We need to be proactive about protecting human rights and making sure our country lives up to its values 
.
my heart goes out to his wife too, she must be traumatized 
. I mean, who are we supposed to trust here - the government or the people who actually see what's going down on the ground? 
FBI agents get caught taking the punch! 
️
and now his wife is traumatized too... it's like, come on guys, you're supposed to be protecting us, not hurting us 
