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)

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Anna Commander

By Anna Commander

News Editor

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Two federal immigration agents fired their weapons during the deadly shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, according to reports from CBS News and CNN on Tuesday.

Why It Matters

Pretti’s killing was the second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis this month, intensifying ongoing scrutiny of agent conduct.

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The deaths have prompted bipartisan calls for an independent investigation, sharpened debate over the legality of carrying firearms while protesting and heightened congressional oversight pressures.

What To Know

An initial memo to Congress said a Border Patrol agent discharged a Customs and Border Protection (CBP)-issued Glock 19 and a CBP officer also discharged a CBP-issued Glock 47 after a struggle in which an agent shouted, “He’s got a gun!” multiple times, per CBS News.

The report does not mention that Pretti tried to reach for his firearm, CBS News says.

This account of the deadly shooting conflicts with an initial statement by the DHS saying one agent "fired defensive shots."

The initial CBP Office of Professional Responsibility memo also did not specify which rounds struck Pretti, CNN notes.

CNN reports the CBP memo said an agent took possession of Pretti’s firearm after the shooting and "secured" it in a government vehicle, potentially raising questions about the evidence chain of custody.

CBS reported that investigators lacked a documented chain of custody for the handgun at the scene.

A CBP spokesperson told Newsweek via email on Tuesday night, "These notifications reflect standard Customs and Border Protection protocol and are issued in accordance with existing procedures. They provide an initial outline of an event that took place and do not convey any definitive conclusion or investigative findings. They are factual reports – not analytical judgments – and are provided to inform Congress and to promote transparency.”

Bureau of Criminal Apprehension officers survey the scene near a makeshift memorial at the site where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, on January 25. (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images)

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What People Are Saying

DHS on X on Saturday: "At 9:05 AM CT, as DHS law enforcement officers were conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault, an individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, seen here. The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted. More details on the armed struggle are forthcoming. Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene."

DHS continued: "The suspect also had 2 magazines and no ID—this looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement. About 200 rioters arrived at the scene and began to obstruct and assault law enforcement on the scene, crowd control measures were deployed for the safety of the public and law enforcement. This situation is evolving, and more information is forthcoming."

Trump on Truth Social on Monday: "I just had a very good telephone conversation with Mayor Jacob Frey, of Minneapolis. Lots of progress is being made! Tom Homan will be meeting with him tomorrow in order to continue the discussion. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP"

Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania on X on Tuesday: ".@POTUS @realDonaldTrump: I make a direct appeal to immediately fire @Sec_Noem. Americans have died. She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy. DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary."

What Happens Next

Numerous federal investigations into Pretti's killing are ongoing as Trump's border czar Tom Homan also heads to Minneapolis.

Update 1/27/26, 10:18 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from a CBP spokesperson.

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