Top Headlines

Feeds

Trump Officials Retract “Domestic Terrorist” Claim After Video Shows Unarmed Nurse Shot

Updated (82 articles)
  • People visit a makeshift memorial for 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer last week, in Minneapolis, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
    Image: Newsweek
    People visit a makeshift memorial for 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer last week, in Minneapolis, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy) Source Full size
  • A photograph of Alex Pretti rests at a vigil for the 37-year-old in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    A photograph of Alex Pretti rests at a vigil for the 37-year-old in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. Source Full size
  • Bureau of Criminal Apprehension police officers survey the scene near a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    Bureau of Criminal Apprehension police officers survey the scene near a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Protesters gathered outside the office of Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar on Monday following the shooting
    Image: BBC
    Protesters gathered outside the office of Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar on Monday following the shooting (AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • A new video shared by The News Movement shows Alex Pretti in a confrontation with federal immigration agents more than a week before he was fatally shot in a separate encounter with Border Patrol agents. (Source: The News Movement/YouTube)
    Image: Newsweek
    A new video shared by The News Movement shows Alex Pretti in a confrontation with federal immigration agents more than a week before he was fatally shot in a separate encounter with Border Patrol agents. (Source: The News Movement/YouTube) Source Full size
  • Ammon Bundy speaks at a campaign event in Boise, Idaho on June 19, 2021.
    Image: Newsweek
    Ammon Bundy speaks at a campaign event in Boise, Idaho on June 19, 2021. Source Full size
  • Image: Newsweek
    Source Full size
  • People gather near the scene where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer yesterday, in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    People gather near the scene where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer yesterday, in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • Alex Pretti worked as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital
    Image: BBC
    Alex Pretti worked as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital (AP) Source Full size
  • People gather near the scene where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer yesterday, in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    People gather near the scene where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer yesterday, in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • Donald Trump attends the world premiere of Amazon MGM’s “Melania” at The Trump-Kennedy Center on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
    Image: Newsweek
    Donald Trump attends the world premiere of Amazon MGM’s “Melania” at The Trump-Kennedy Center on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage) Source Full size
  • Alex Pretti was killed in Minneapolis on Saturday
    Image: BBC
    Alex Pretti was killed in Minneapolis on Saturday (Family handout) Source Full size
  • A child holds a candle next to a makeshift memorial for Alex Pretti outside of the US Department of Veteran Affairs in Washington, DC on January 28, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    A child holds a candle next to a makeshift memorial for Alex Pretti outside of the US Department of Veteran Affairs in Washington, DC on January 28, 2026. Source Full size
  • None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • Alex Pretti worked as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital
    Image: BBC
    Alex Pretti worked as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital (AP) Source Full size
  • Protesters gathered outside the office of Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar on Monday following the shooting
    Image: BBC
    Protesters gathered outside the office of Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar on Monday following the shooting (AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Alex Pretti was killed in Minneapolis on Saturday
    Image: BBC
    Alex Pretti was killed in Minneapolis on Saturday (Family handout) Source Full size
  • Tributes have been left outside Pretti's home in Minneapolis, as well as at the scene of the incident
    Image: BBC
    Tributes have been left outside Pretti's home in Minneapolis, as well as at the scene of the incident (Getty Images) Source Full size
  • A photograph of Alex Pretti rests at a vigil for the 37-year-old in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    A photograph of Alex Pretti rests at a vigil for the 37-year-old in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. Source Full size
  • Ammon Bundy speaks at a campaign event in Boise, Idaho on June 19, 2021.
    Image: Newsweek
    Ammon Bundy speaks at a campaign event in Boise, Idaho on June 19, 2021. Source Full size
  • People visit a makeshift memorial for 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer last week, in Minneapolis, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
    Image: Newsweek
    People visit a makeshift memorial for 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer last week, in Minneapolis, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy) Source Full size
  • Donald Trump attends the world premiere of Amazon MGM’s “Melania” at The Trump-Kennedy Center on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
    Image: Newsweek
    Donald Trump attends the world premiere of Amazon MGM’s “Melania” at The Trump-Kennedy Center on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage) Source Full size
  • A child holds a candle next to a makeshift memorial for Alex Pretti outside of the US Department of Veteran Affairs in Washington, DC on January 28, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    A child holds a candle next to a makeshift memorial for Alex Pretti outside of the US Department of Veteran Affairs in Washington, DC on January 28, 2026. Source Full size
  • A new video shared by The News Movement shows Alex Pretti in a confrontation with federal immigration agents more than a week before he was fatally shot in a separate encounter with Border Patrol agents. (Source: The News Movement/YouTube)
    Image: Newsweek
    A new video shared by The News Movement shows Alex Pretti in a confrontation with federal immigration agents more than a week before he was fatally shot in a separate encounter with Border Patrol agents. (Source: The News Movement/YouTube) Source Full size
  • Image: Newsweek
    Source Full size
  • Bureau of Criminal Apprehension police officers survey the scene near a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    Bureau of Criminal Apprehension police officers survey the scene near a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • People gather near the scene where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer yesterday, in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    People gather near the scene where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer yesterday, in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • People gather near the scene where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer yesterday, in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    People gather near the scene where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer yesterday, in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Credit: AP) Source Full size

Fatal Shooting Occurs Amid Minneapolis Protest

On January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive‑care nurse at the Minneapolis VA, was shot multiple times by two federal immigration agents during a protest. Video released by BBC Verify and multiple by‑standers shows Pretti filming officers, being pepper‑sprayed, wrestled to the ground and then shot while holding only a phone; no gun is visible in his hands. The shooters were later identified as Border Patrol Agent Jesus Ochoa (43) and CBP Officer Raymundo Gutierrez (35), both placed on administrative leave pending investigations [3][5][7][10]. The Department of Justice opened a civil‑rights probe on January 30, with the FBI leading and the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division assisting [5][6][7][8].

Administration’s Narrative Shifts After Video Review

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller initially described Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” who brandished a 9 mm handgun, a claim echoed by President Trump’s early posts labeling him an “agitator” [1][9][19]. After the video evidence disproved the gun‑brandishing allegation, senior officials began backtracking: Miller cited possible protocol failures in the agents’ use‑of‑force, while Noem promised DHS would “do better” and review force‑protection guidance [1][4][19]. Trump later softened his language, stating he disagreed with the “would‑be assassin” label and called for an “honest” investigation [9][19].

Political Backlash and Legal Actions Intensify

Democratic lawmakers introduced impeachment articles against Noem, citing the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good as evidence of mismanagement [2][4]. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanded the removal of federal agents and a halt to Operation Metro Surge, while a federal judge barred the administration from destroying or altering evidence [5][11][14][19]. In response, President Trump removed Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino from Minneapolis and dispatched “border czar” Tom Homan to oversee ICE operations in the state [11][19].

New Footage of Jan 13 Confrontation Fuels Debate

Videos released on January 29 show Pretti kicking the taillight of an ICE‑marked SUV, being tackled, and a handgun visible in his waistband, though he never draws it [12][13][15][17]. The clips, verified by BBC facial‑recognition and shared by Trump Jr., prompted DHS to review the footage while Pretti’s attorney Steve Schleicher reiterated that the earlier assault could not justify the fatal shooting [12][13][17]. Militia leader Ammon Bundy condemned the killing as “sickening,” emphasizing the humanitarian dimension of the controversy [2].

Sources

Videos (3)

Timeline

Dec 1 2025 – DHS launches Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, deploying about 3,000 immigration‑enforcement officers to target undocumented criminals, a move that later fuels protests and legal challenges [1][2].

Jan 7 2026 – An ICE officer fatally shoots Renee Good in her vehicle on south‑side Minneapolis, igniting citywide demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement [2][3][4][5][10][18][19].

Jan 13 2026 – Alex Pretti confronts ICE agents, yelling, spitting and kicking a federal vehicle’s taillight; he is tackled, suffers a broken rib, and later receives medication, an encounter later released in video form [7][12][25].

Jan 24 2026 – Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old ICU nurse and legal gun owner, is shot multiple times by Border Patrol agents during a targeted operation on Nicollet Avenue; by‑stander footage shows him filming, being pepper‑sprayed and wrestled to the ground with no visible weapon [4][5][6][8][9][10][14][15][16][17][18][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30].

Jan 24 2026 – Governor Tim Walz activates the Minnesota National Guard, declares a state emergency, and publicly demands the removal of federal ICE agents, calling the operation “sickening” [10][20][21][23][24][25].

Jan 24‑25 2026 – Minnesota files a lawsuit and obtains a federal restraining order prohibiting the Trump administration from destroying or altering evidence from the Pretti shooting, while state investigators are blocked from the scene despite a warrant [17][18][20][27].

Jan 25 2026 – A GoFundMe campaign for Pretti’s family surpasses its $20,000 goal, raising over $160,000, with excess funds earmarked for the Immigrant Defense Project [22][23].

Jan 25 2026 – Hundreds protest the Pretti killing; police deploy tear gas, flash‑bangs and establish a vehicle‑exclusion zone, while the National Guard supports local law‑enforcement [18][21][29].

Jan 26 2026 – President Donald Trump tells the Wall Street Journal the administration is “reviewing everything” after the Pretti shooting and hints that federal agents will eventually be withdrawn from Minnesota [5].

Jan 26 2026 – Trump pledges to “de‑escalate a little bit” in Minnesota, noting the operation has removed “thousands of hardened criminals” while defending the use of extra personnel for fugitive operations [3].

Jan 26 2026 – Senator Bill Cassidy calls for a joint federal‑state probe, warning that the credibility of ICE and DHS is at stake [13]; the International Association of Chiefs of Police urges the White House to convene a federal‑state dialogue on the shooting [26].

Jan 27 2026 – Trump announces a “big, honorable and honest” investigation, places White House border “czar” Tom Homan in charge of the Minnesota operation, and removes Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino from the state [11][15][27].

Jan 27 2026 – The White House distances itself from the “domestic‑terrorist” label applied to Pretti, clarifying that the remark did not come from the president [13][14].

Jan 27 2026 – Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension sues the federal government and, under a court order, continues on‑site evidence collection while a hearing is set for the following Monday [14][15][27].

Jan 27 2026 – Legal scholars explain that the Jan 13 altercation has no bearing on the Fourth‑Amendment analysis of the Jan 24 lethal force, emphasizing that the earlier scuffle does not justify the shooting [7].

Jan 27 2026 – Trump posts on Truth Social that Pretti is “crazed and out of control,” labeling him an “agitator” after a new video of the Jan 13 confrontation surfaces [7].

Jan 28 2026 – Trump reiterates that the administration will “de‑escalate a little bit” in Minnesota, meeting with Governor Walz, Mayor Frey and local officials, while DHS reshuffles leadership and assigns Tom Homan to oversee the mission [3].

Jan 28 2026 – Two CBP agents involved in the Pretti shooting are placed on standard administrative leave, a move confirmed by Customs and Border Protection [2][9].

Jan 30 2026 – Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announces that the DOJ opens a civil‑rights investigation into the Pretti killing, with the FBI leading the probe and the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division providing support, separate from DHS’s internal review [1][6].

Jan 30 2026 – Trump calls Pretti “crazed and out of control” and demands an “honest” investigation, while new video footage shows Pretti yelling at ICE officers and kicking a vehicle on Jan 13 — a clip cited by MAGA commentators to portray him as an agitator [7].

Feb 10 2026 (planned) – The House Homeland Security Committee, chaired by Rep. Andrew Garbarino, schedules a congressional hearing where ICE, CBP and USCIS leaders will testify about the Minneapolis immigration‑enforcement policy and the Pretti shooting [10].

Social media (20 posts)

Dive deeper (53 sub-stories)

All related articles (82 articles)

External resources (110 links)