Woman who filmed Alex Pretti shooting reveals what she saw – confirms the rumors

A woman who stood just feet away from the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti has come forward with a detailed eyewitness account that is intensifying scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement and challenging official claims made in the immediate aftermath of his death. Her testimony, recorded in a sworn affidavit, appears to confirm rumors that have been circulating online since the incident and raises serious questions about whether lethal force was used against an unarmed man.

Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and community advocate, was shot and killed on Saturday, January 24, during a volatile confrontation involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. His death came less than a month after another fatal encounter in Minnesota, when Renee Good was killed during a separate enforcement operation. Together, the two incidents have heightened tensions across the state and fueled widespread anger, fear, and distrust toward federal authorities.

In recent weeks, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have maintained a visible and aggressive presence in Minneapolis, conducting raids and detentions aimed at individuals suspected of being in the country unlawfully. These operations have sparked protests and drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups and residents who describe the tactics as heavy-handed and destabilizing. Against this backdrop, Pretti’s killing has become a flashpoint in an already charged environment.

Within hours of the shooting, federal officials moved quickly to frame the narrative. Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, publicly accused Pretti of brandishing a firearm and claimed he intended to cause “maximum damage” and “massacre law enforcement.” Those statements were echoed and amplified by Donald Trump, who took to social media to describe Pretti as a gunman and shared an image of a handgun allegedly recovered at the scene.

Those claims are now being directly challenged by video evidence and eyewitness testimony.

Footage recorded by bystanders shows Pretti holding a cellphone, not a firearm, as he approached agents during the confrontation. Multiple videos appear to show federal agents removing a gun from Pretti’s holster before he was forced to the ground. It is undisputed that Pretti legally owned the firearm and had a permit to carry it, but the recordings suggest the weapon was not in his hands at any point visible before shots were fired.

The woman who filmed the incident, and who has chosen to remain anonymous, says she was drawn to the scene because of growing concern over federal activity in her neighborhood. In her affidavit, submitted as evidence in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union against the Trump administration, she describes witnessing a scene that unfolded rapidly and violently.

She said she was on her way to work when she noticed the confrontation and decided to observe and document what was happening. According to her account, Pretti did not appear to be resisting arrest or threatening officers. Instead, she says he was trying to help a woman who had been pushed to the ground by agents.

“It didn’t look like he was trying to resist,” she stated. “He was just trying to help the woman up. I didn’t see him with a gun. They threw him to the ground.”

She described four or five agents piling on top of Pretti as he lay on the pavement. Moments later, gunfire erupted.

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

According to her testimony, Pretti was pepper-sprayed repeatedly, even as he raised his hands. She said one agent sprayed all three individuals involved directly in the face. When Pretti raised his hands above his head, holding only his phone, she claims he was sprayed again and shoved.

“The agents pulled the man on the ground,” she said. “I didn’t see him touch any of them. He wasn’t even turned toward them.”

The affidavit states that Pretti was shot more than ten times while pinned to the ground. Video footage reviewed by media outlets appears to corroborate key aspects of her account, showing Pretti restrained and surrounded by agents at the moment shots were fired.

The witness emphasized that Pretti did not approach agents with a weapon. “The man did not approach the agents with a gun,” she said. “He approached them with a camera. He was just trying to help a woman get up, and they took him to the ground.”

She concluded her statement with a raw expression of outrage and grief, saying she was “disgusted and gutted” by how federal agents were treating residents in her state.

Pretti’s family has also spoken out forcefully, condemning what they describe as deliberate misinformation spread about their son. In a public statement released after officials portrayed Pretti as an armed aggressor, the family accused the administration of lying to justify his killing.

“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” the statement read. “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked. He has his phone in his right hand, and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper-sprayed.”

They urged the public to examine the available footage and help ensure the truth about what happened is not buried beneath official statements.

“Please get the truth out about our son,” the family said. “He was a good man.”

As with the earlier killing of Renee Good, Pretti’s death has ignited renewed debate over the use of force by federal agents, particularly in civilian settings. Civil rights advocates argue that the incident reflects a pattern of escalation, poor judgment, and lack of accountability during enforcement operations. Supporters of federal agencies, meanwhile, have urged caution, insisting investigations should be allowed to proceed before conclusions are drawn.

Still, the growing body of video evidence and sworn testimony has made it increasingly difficult to reconcile initial official claims with what appears to have unfolded on the ground. The fact that Pretti was legally armed, disarmed by agents, and then shot while restrained has become central to calls for an independent investigation.

Federal authorities have confirmed that the shooting remains under review. Meanwhile, lawsuits, protests, and public demands for transparency continue to mount. For many in Minnesota and beyond, the case has come to symbolize broader fears about unchecked power, erosion of civil liberties, and the consequences of misinformation in moments of crisis.

What is clear is that Alex Pretti’s death did not occur in a vacuum. It happened in a climate of heightened tension, aggressive enforcement, and deep public mistrust. As more eyewitness accounts come to light, the pressure on authorities to provide a full, credible, and transparent accounting of what happened continues to grow.