An eyewitness who filmed the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis has shared a detailed account that appears to support claims circulating online after his death. Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot and killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Saturday, January 24, during a tense confrontation in the city. The shooting occurred amid heightened federal enforcement activity in Minneapolis, which has drawn criticism from community members and civil-rights groups.

Federal officials initially claimed Pretti had brandished a firearm and posed a serious threat. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former President Donald Trump publicly described him as a gunman. However, video footage and witness testimony appear to challenge that narrative. Recordings show Pretti holding a cellphone, with no weapon visible. Legal filings state that while Pretti had a permit to carry a firearm, his gun was allegedly removed by agents before shots were fired.

The woman who filmed the incident, standing about five feet away, later submitted a sworn affidavit as part of an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit. She said Pretti appeared to be trying to help a woman who had been pushed to the ground and did not resist officers.

“I didn’t see him with a gun,” she said. “Four or five agents had him on the ground and then they shot him.”She also described repeated use of pepper spray during the encounter. Pretti’s family has strongly disputed official claims, saying he was holding only his phone with his hands raised when he was attacked. Federal authorities say the incident remains under investigation as legal challenges continue, with the case now central to broader debates over immigration enforcement and use of force.