Protester Standing ‘5 Feet’ from Alex Pretti Says He Was ‘Trying to Help a Woman’ When Agents Killed Him: ‘They’re Not Telling the Truth’

A Minneapolis woman who says she witnessed federal immigration agents shoot and kill Alex Pretti over the weekend described the encounter as terrifying — and said she now fears for her safety after hearing agents are “looking” for her.

The woman is one of six witnesses who have submitted affidavits describing what they say happened in the moments before and after Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot at close range by a federal immigration agent. The lawsuit lists Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other DHS and ICE officials as defendants.

In her statement dated Saturday, Jan. 24, the woman — who described herself as “a children’s entertainer who specializes in face painting” — said she was leaving home earlier that morning when she heard whistles outside, which she said is a signal that immigration agents are nearby.

She said she has been involved in community “observing” since federal immigration agents arrived in the area. Driving toward Nicollet Ave., she said she saw a convoy of government vehicles and “about 15” observers. She added that some people, including her, were recording.

She said a man later identified as Pretti was directing traffic and helped guide her on where to park, then continued filming on his phone.

The witness claimed agents began forcing observers back and threatening pepper spray. She said Pretti walked over holding his phone up, filming, and trying to “support” the people being pushed back.

According to her account, a federal agent shoved an observer to the ground and then pepper-sprayed multiple people.

“Then the [federal] agent shoved one of the other observers to the ground. Then he started pepper-spraying all three of them directly in the face and all over. [Pretti] put his hands above his head and the agent sprayed him again and pushed him. Then [Pretti] tried to help up the woman the ICE agent had shoved to the ground. The ICE agents just kept spraying,” she said, adding that she could feel the sting in her own eyes.

She said agents then took Pretti to the ground. “I didn’t see him touch any of them — he wasn’t even turned toward them. It didn’t look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up. I didn’t see him with a gun,” she added.

The witness said multiple agents were on top of Pretti when the shooting began.

“Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him. They shot him so many times. I don’t know why they shot him,” she said. “He was only helping. I was five feet from him and they just shot him.”

The woman said she submitted the video she recorded as evidence. She also said her video and firsthand account do not match public statements she said were made soon after the incident by Noem, Stephen Miller, and other Trump administration officials, whom she said labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and alleged he approached officers intending to “inflict maximum damage.”

“I have read the statement from DHS about what happened and it is wrong,” she said. “The man did not approach the agents with a gun. He approached them with a camera. He was just trying to help a woman get up and they took him to the ground.”

The witness said she now feels afraid and uncertain about what could happen next.

“Only hours have passed since they shot a man right in front me and I don’t feel like I can go home because I heard agents were looking for me,” she said. “I don’t know what the agents will do when they find me. I do know that they’re not telling the truth about what happened.”

She said she cycled between “crying and feeling determined” after the incident, adding that she believes documenting what she described as injustice is necessary — and that observers intentionally show up to “bear witness.”

“We show up for the people who need us to bear witness, because it can’t just be one group of people bearing the brunt of their tyranny,” she said. “This is a struggle to protect our freedom and democracy, those things are on the line.”

She added that Pretti “lost his life for those values.”

DHS was contacted for comment about the witness’s claims.

A second witness, a 29-year-old licensed pediatrician, also submitted testimony describing what they said happened after the shooting. The physician said they pleaded with ICE agents to allow them to provide medical care.

“None of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, and I could tell that the victim was in critical condition,” the physician said. The witness added that agents initially prevented them from reaching Pretti, and that they “repeatedly asked” to see a medical license.

“I insisted that the agents let me assess him. Normally, I would not have been so persistent, but as a physician, I felt a professional and moral obligation to help this man, especially since none of the agents were helping him,” the physician said.

After being searched for weapons, the physician said they were allowed to approach Pretti.

“I saw that the victim was lying on his side and was surrounded by several ICE agents. I was confused as to why the victim was on his side, because that is not standard practice when a victim has been shot,” the physician said.

“Checking for a pulse and administering CPR is standard practice,” they continued. “Instead of doing either of those things, the ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds. I asked the ICE agents if the victim had a pulse, and they said they did not know.”

The witness said medics arrived shortly after CPR began and that Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara later said in a press conference that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a license to carry.

Pretti’s parents also released a statement urging the public to share what they called the truth about their son.

“We are heartbroken but also very angry…The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” Michael and Susan Pretti said. “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.”

“Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact,” they added.