Two federal agents discharged their weapons during the fatal shooting of Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti, according to a new government report sent to Congress Tuesday. The document offers the most detailed official timeline so far and raises questions about early descriptions of what happened during the encounter.
The report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility, based on body camera footage and CBP records, does not state that Pretti tried to grab his legally owned 9mm handgun. That detail contrasts with earlier statements from Department of Homeland Security officials who said Pretti approached officers while armed.
According to the CBP report obtained by CBS News, the incident began around 9 a.m. Saturday during Operation Metro Surge near Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street in Minneapolis. A CBP officer was confronted by two women blowing whistles in the roadway. When ordered to move, they refused, and the officer pushed them out of the street. One of the women ran toward Pretti, and when the officer tried to move both individuals out of the roadway, they did not comply. Pepper spray was then deployed.
CBP personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody, but the report says he resisted and a struggle followed. During that struggle, a Border Patrol agent repeatedly shouted, “He’s got a gun!” About five seconds later, a Border Patrol agent fired a CBP-issued Glock 19, and a CBP officer fired a CBP-issued Glock 47.
After the shooting, a Border Patrol agent took possession of Pretti’s firearm and secured it in a vehicle. CBP personnel began rendering medical aid at approximately 9:02 a.m., cutting away Pretti’s clothing and applying chest seals to his wounds. Minneapolis Fire Department EMTs arrived at 9:05 a.m. and transported him to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:32 a.m.
An autopsy is being conducted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, and CBP has requested the findings. The shooting is under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, with an internal review underway by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility. The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General has also been notified.
CBP stressed that the information provided to Congress reflects a preliminary review of body camera footage and internal records and could change as the investigation continues.
The incident occurred during Operation Metro Surge, which DHS has described as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out. The operation has faced criticism for aggressive tactics, warrantless arrests, and clashes with protesters. Minnesota officials have since activated the National Guard and sought legal limits on federal operations in the state.
What remains clear is that federal agents were operating under intense and chaotic conditions during a major enforcement operation, and multiple investigations are now underway to establish the full truth. Accountability and transparency are being pursued through official channels, and the process is moving forward as designed. In the end, facts—not rumors—will shape the outcome, and that’s exactly how it should be.
