ABC News has compiled a detailed timeline of the events leading up to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, based on five verified witness videos recorded in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday morning.
Videos Raise Questions About Official Account
Federal officials initially claimed Pretti approached Border Patrol officers armed and intent on harming law enforcement. However, video evidence reviewed by ABC News appears to contradict that narrative, showing Pretti recording officers with his phone moments before the confrontation escalated.
Former acting DHS undersecretary and ABC News contributor John Cohen said the footage does not support claims that Pretti posed an immediate threat prior to the use of force.
Initial Encounter Begins With Recording
At 8:58:11 a.m., more than three minutes before any shots were fired, Pretti is seen holding up his phone toward a federal officer on Nicollet Avenue, apparently recording an immigration detention nearby. A second officer carrying pepper spray approaches him seconds later.
Over the next minute, Pretti continues filming as officers detain another individual. One officer appears to push Pretti toward the sidewalk as tensions rise.
Escalation and Use of Pepper Spray
By 9:00 a.m., multiple civilians are involved, and officers are seen shouting commands. At 9:00:50 a.m., an officer deploys pepper spray on Pretti. Video shows Pretti raising a hand, which Cohen says appears to be an attempt to signal he was not a threat.
Moments later, Pretti stumbles and appears to grab another person to steady himself after being sprayed. An officer then pulls him into the street by the hood of his coat.
Struggle in the Street
At 9:01:02 a.m., at least three officers are seen holding Pretti down while others surround him. Witnesses can be heard shouting accusations of police brutality, with one woman screaming that officers were kicking Pretti in the face.
An officer is captured on video repeatedly striking Pretti as he lies pinned on the ground.
Gun Removed and Shots Fired
At 9:01:12 a.m., one officer draws a handgun. Seconds later, another officer appears to remove a firearm from Pretti’s waist — a weapon federal officials say belonged to Pretti.
Despite this, the first shot is fired at 9:01:14 a.m. Within one second, three more shots follow. Pretti appears to go limp. Six additional shots are fired within the next three seconds as officers step back from his body.
Aftermath and Forensic Findings
Nearly 30 seconds after the first shot, an officer approaches Pretti. According to a sworn affidavit from a doctor at the scene, Pretti sustained at least three gunshot wounds to his back, one to his upper chest, and a possible wound to his neck.
More than a minute later, an officer is heard repeatedly saying, “I got the gun,” as he walks toward other agents.
A forensic audio analysis conducted by Montana State University professor Robert Maher concluded that 10 shots were fired in less than five seconds.
Ongoing Scrutiny
The videos and timeline have intensified public scrutiny of the shooting and federal officials’ statements, as protests and calls for accountability continue across Minneapolis.
For more on Trump’s immigration enforcement, which has claimed several lives in violent operations and face public scrutiny, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.