A Department of Homeland Security report sent to Congress and obtained by ABC News says that two federal officers discharged their firearms during the shooting of Alex Pretti on Saturday in Minneapolis. At no point in the report does DHS say Pretti attempted to reach for his weapon.
The report says DHS conducted a preliminary review of body-worn camera footage and Customs and Border Protection documentation from the scene and is notifying lawmakers of what they say are key details from before and after Pretti was shot and killed.
The timeline notes that while agents attempted to take Pretti into custody, a struggle ensued and “a BPA (Border Patrol Agent) yelled ‘He’s got a gun!’ multiple times.”
According to the report, “CBP (Customs and Border Protection) personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody. Pretti resisted CBP personnel’s efforts and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a BPA yelled, “He’s got a gun!” multiple times. Approximately five seconds later, a BPA discharged his CBP-issued Glock 19 and a CBPO also discharged his CBP-issued Glock 47 at Pretti.”
The report does not say whether both agents who discharged their weapons struck Pretti with gunfire.
The report goes on to say, “After the shooting, a BPA advised he had possession of Pretti’s firearm.” The report does not specify when exactly agents secured Pretti’s firearm.
Multiple videos of the incident taken by civilians show that Pretti was disarmed by a law enforcement officer just before the first shot rang out.
In the timeline, DHS says agents “attempted to take Pretti into custody” after a woman ran to him for help when CBP agents tried to push her and another woman out of a roadway as agents conducted enforcement actions nearby.
“The CBPO ordered the female civilians to move out of the roadway, and the female civilians did not move. The CBPO pushed them both away and one of the females ran to a male, later identified as 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a US citizen,” the report states. “The CBPO attempted to move the woman and Pretti out of the roadway. The woman and Pretti did not move. The CBPO deployed his oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray towards both Pretti and the woman.
“CBP personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody. Pretti resisted CBP personnel’s efforts and a struggle ensued,” it continues.
Saturday’s shooting has prompted calls from lawmakers for a thorough investigation, including more than two dozen congressional Republicans, according to ABC News’ count.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
