New Footage of Jan 13 ICE Clash Released, Prompting HSI Review and Legal Outcry
Updated (3 articles)
Jan 13 Minneapolis Protest Video Shows Pretti Tackled On Jan 13, a Minneapolis protest turned violent when Alex Pretti kicked the taillight of an ICE‑marked SUV and was immediately tackled by federal agents, as captured in two independent recordings. The footage shows his winter coat being ripped off, a handgun visible in his waistband, and Pretti shouting an expletive, but he never reaches for the weapon. One video was filmed by attorney Max Shapiro after a Signal alert, and the other by The News Movement, both later released through the Minnesota Star Tribune. [1][2][3]
Pretti Identified as VA Intensive‑Care Nurse Who Warned Family Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive‑care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, informed his relatives that the Jan 13 encounter had occurred, according to an anonymous source cited by the AP. His professional role and the fact that he was documenting the protest have been highlighted in all three reports. The identification of the man in the videos as Pretti links the scuffle directly to the later fatal incident. [1][2][3]
Jan 24 Sidewalk Shooting Killed Pretti After Officer Claims Gun Eleven days later, on Jan 24, Border Patrol officers shot Pretti on a sidewalk near where he had been recording officers, killing him. Bystander video captures an officer announcing “He’s got a gun” before two agents opened fire while Pretti lay on the ground holding his phone. Attorney Steve Schleicher, representing the family, stated that the Jan 13 assault could not justify the shooting, emphasizing that Pretti posed no threat. [1][2][3]
HSI Launches Review While Trump Jr. Amplifies Video Nationwide Homeland Security Investigations confirmed it is reviewing the newly released Jan 13 videos to determine what occurred, though it has not disclosed whether any of the agents present then participated in the Jan 24 shooting. Donald Trump Jr. reposted one of the clips on X, labeling Pretti a “peaceful legal observer,” which broadened national debate. The review and political amplification occur amid ongoing calls for accountability from the family’s legal team. [1][2][3]
Sources
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1.
AP: New videos show Alex Pretti’s Jan 13 scuffle with ICE agents: AP provided the two recordings, described the protest confrontation, highlighted the attorney’s rejection of justification, noted HSI’s review and Donald Trump Jr.’s social‑media amplification.
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2.
WBNS: New videos show Alex Pretti’s Jan. 13 clash with ICE agents, weeks before his death: WBNS focused on the two independent videos, confirmed Pretti’s role as a VA intensive‑care nurse, reiterated the family lawyer’s stance, and mentioned the HSI investigation and Trump Jr.’s X posting.
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3.
King5: New videos show Alex Pretti’s Jan. 13 clash with ICE agents: King5 reported the same scuffle footage, added details from the Jan 24 bystander video showing officers shouting about a gun before firing, and covered the HSI review and Trump Jr.’s repost.
Timeline
Jan 13, 2026 – Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive‑care nurse at the Minneapolis VA, kicks the taillight of an ICE‑marked SUV during a protest, shouts an expletive, and is tackled and forced to the ground by ICE agents wearing gas masks and helmets; his winter coat is ripped off and a handgun is visible in his waistband, though he never reaches for it, and the agents subdue him with tear‑gas canisters before later hugging him, as captured in two independent videos filmed by attorney Max Shapiro and The News Movement[1][2].
Jan 24, 2026 – Border Patrol officers shoot Pretti dead on a sidewalk near where he had been filming officers, after an officer shouts “He’s got a gun” and two officers open fire while Pretti lies on the ground holding his phone, a bystander video documenting the fatal shooting[1][3].
Jan 29, 2026 – New videos of the Jan 13 scuffle are released publicly, prompting widespread debate; the footage is sourced from Max Shapiro’s Signal‑chat‑prompted recording and The News Movement, and Homeland Security Investigations begins reviewing the clips to determine officer involvement in both incidents[1][2].
Jan 29, 2026 – Attorney Steve Schleicher, representing Pretti’s parents, issues a written statement that the Jan 13 “violent assault” “could not possibly have justified Alex’s killing” and emphasizes that Pretti posed no threat, directly countering any justification for the Jan 24 shooting[1][3].
Jan 29, 2026 – Donald Trump Jr. shares one of the Jan 13 videos on X, labeling Pretti a “peaceful legal observer,” thereby amplifying national attention and framing the narrative around the incident[1][3].
External resources (1 links)
- https://bit.ly/4ahc4at (cited 2 times)