Video Contradicts Trump's Claim Man Killed in Minneapolis Was 'Gunman'
A shocking video recording has directly contradicted claims made by senior Trump administration officials that Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse who was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis, was armed with a gun. The footage shows Pretti holding up his phone as one officer reached out and shoved him back, contradicting the account provided by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials.
According to multiple witnesses, Pretti had approached US border patrol officers on Nicollet Avenue, but there is no evidence that he was holding a gun. Video footage recorded by witnesses shows Pretti continuing to record the officer as he was shoved back, while another witness described him directing traffic so that cars could pass the scene.
The Department of Homeland Security released an image of a handgun after the shooting, which President Trump referenced in a social media post. However, this claim has been repeatedly contradicted by video evidence and eyewitness accounts.
A senior border patrol commander, Greg Bovino, initially stated that Pretti had approached agents with the same gun, but later declined to say whether or not Pretti pulled out the gun. In contrast, video footage shows no indication of Pretti ever brandishing a weapon.
The Guardian has obtained higher-resolution copies of the same clip, which show Pretti stepping in to defend another observer who was shoved to the ground by a federal officer. As agents held him down, an officer reached down toward Pretti's lower back and then stepped away with what appeared to be a gun. At that moment, one of the agents shouted: "Gun! Gun!"
However, less than a second later, another agent drew a gun and appeared to fire a shot at Pretti from close range. As the agents stepped back, another officer pointed a gun at Pretti, and a volley of 10 more shots rang out.
The video evidence suggests that federal agents may have opened fire on Pretti moments after he had been disarmed of the gun he was legally permitted to carry. Despite this, Homeland Security Secretary Noem stuck to the administration's story, referring to Pretti as an "armed suspect" and claiming that he was brandishing a weapon when approaching federal agents.
Pretti's parents have condemned the claims made by the Trump administration, stating that they are "reprehensible and disgusting". They also expressed outrage at the fact that their son was pepper-sprayed and tackled to the ground without any warning.
A shocking video recording has directly contradicted claims made by senior Trump administration officials that Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse who was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis, was armed with a gun. The footage shows Pretti holding up his phone as one officer reached out and shoved him back, contradicting the account provided by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials.
According to multiple witnesses, Pretti had approached US border patrol officers on Nicollet Avenue, but there is no evidence that he was holding a gun. Video footage recorded by witnesses shows Pretti continuing to record the officer as he was shoved back, while another witness described him directing traffic so that cars could pass the scene.
The Department of Homeland Security released an image of a handgun after the shooting, which President Trump referenced in a social media post. However, this claim has been repeatedly contradicted by video evidence and eyewitness accounts.
A senior border patrol commander, Greg Bovino, initially stated that Pretti had approached agents with the same gun, but later declined to say whether or not Pretti pulled out the gun. In contrast, video footage shows no indication of Pretti ever brandishing a weapon.
The Guardian has obtained higher-resolution copies of the same clip, which show Pretti stepping in to defend another observer who was shoved to the ground by a federal officer. As agents held him down, an officer reached down toward Pretti's lower back and then stepped away with what appeared to be a gun. At that moment, one of the agents shouted: "Gun! Gun!"
However, less than a second later, another agent drew a gun and appeared to fire a shot at Pretti from close range. As the agents stepped back, another officer pointed a gun at Pretti, and a volley of 10 more shots rang out.
The video evidence suggests that federal agents may have opened fire on Pretti moments after he had been disarmed of the gun he was legally permitted to carry. Despite this, Homeland Security Secretary Noem stuck to the administration's story, referring to Pretti as an "armed suspect" and claiming that he was brandishing a weapon when approaching federal agents.
Pretti's parents have condemned the claims made by the Trump administration, stating that they are "reprehensible and disgusting". They also expressed outrage at the fact that their son was pepper-sprayed and tackled to the ground without any warning.
and meanwhile they're telling everyone else that he had a gun in his hand too... no way, dude. I don't trust what the trump administration is saying about this whole thing. 
it's clear that they're hiding something. and these video clips are proof of that. i mean, how many times do you see someone try to take a selfie with an officer before things go south? 
anyway, my heart goes out to pretti's family and their son was really just trying to do his job as a nurse. 
... federal agents killing an unarmed man in broad daylight and then claiming he had a gun? no way jose! 
she needs to get her facts straight stat! 
. The video is super clear, it shows him not holding a gun at all 
. And now we know that Homeland Security Secretary Noem and other officials were wrong too 
. It's so frustrating when people in power don't tell the truth 
. Trump even shared a pic of a handgun, but that was just to back up their story 
.
That's what I'm trying to figure out. The fact that Alex's parents are saying he was innocent is so sad 
. Pepper spray and being tackled to the ground without warning is just awful 
.
. It's like they opened fire on him right after disarming him? That doesn't seem right 
. We need more transparency and honesty from our officials 
.
So, Homeland Sec's trying to spin it like he was brandishing a gun and the agents had reason to believe that, but we all know how that story's playing out now 
. Can we trust anything these folks are telling us anymore? 
. Like, Homeland Security Secretary Noem is still calling Pretti an "armed suspect" when there's no gun involved 
. It's just so suspicious and it makes me super sad for Pretti's family - his parents are totally right to be outraged 
. This whole thing feels like a huge mess...
and i'm not buying trump's claim at all... plus those parents are totally right, their son was just trying to do his job as a nurse and he got taken down by the cops. this whole thing is just crazy 
The fact that his parents are speaking out against it is really sad, though... it just shows how hurtful and reckless this whole situation has been for them and their son's memory. 
.
. pepper spray and tackle without warning? that's straight-up messed up 
