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By Hollie Silverman
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The death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse killed by federal agents in Minneapolis last month, has been deemed a homicide by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
Pretti died January 24 on the streets of Minneapolis after a confrontation with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Agents.
In an email sent to Newsweek on Monday, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson said, "This matter remains under two separate, active investigations. The FBI is leading the with HSI supporting. CBP is also conducting a separate internal investigation.”
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The Context
Video of his death was widely circulated in the following hours on social media. Those videos and images contradicted the narrative that federal authorities painted.
His death came just weeks after Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
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What To Know
According to the medical examiner's report, Pretti's cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was listed as homicide.
Pretti's place of death is marked as the emergency room at the hospital he was transported to. In the report, they list "how injury occurred" as "shot by law enforcement officer(s)."
Although Blanche said the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched a civil rights probe into Pretti’s death and would review witness accounts and documentary evidence. He provided no timetable and did not commit to releasing body-camera video.
The two federal immigration agents involved in the death of Pretti have been identified as 43-year-old Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and 35-year-old Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer Raymundo Gutierrez, according to government records viewed by ProPublica.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the FBI would lead the federal criminal investigation, with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) supporting, and that Customs and Border Protection was conducting an internal review.
One of several videos taken of the incident shows Pretti holding a cellphone in his right hand before a struggle with federal agents, with one agent later seen stepping away holding a handgun that appeared to be removed from his waistband, followed by gunfire.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said he had seen no evidence that Pretti brandished a weapon and described him as appearing to lawfully record while legally carrying.
Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, have said state investigators were initially denied access to the scene and later obtained a temporary restraining order to preserve evidence, after which the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension returned to continue evidence collection.
Who Was Alex Pretti?
Pretti worked as an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and held an active Minnesota nursing license.
Family and colleagues described him as dedicated to caring for veterans. His parents and Chief O'Hara said he lawfully owned a handgun and had a permit to carry.
What People Are Saying
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said i****n a Friday interview with Fox News, cited by the Associated Press: “We will continue to follow the investigation that the FBI is leading and giving them all the information that they need to bring that to a conclusion.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a Jan. 25 interview: “All the pieces of the investigation are being led by DHS in HSI.”
What Happens Next
The DOJ's civil rights investigation and the FBI-led criminal inquiry continued with no announced timeline for completion or public release of body-camera footage as of February 2. State officials indicated their parallel efforts would proceed following court-ordered preservation of evidence.
Update 2/2/26 2:17 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with more information.
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