A video circulating on social media shows a member of the US Department of Homeland Security clapping shortly after protester Alex Jeffrey Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis. The officer, wearing a police vest over a black hoodie, approached the area where Pretti was held by Border Patrol agents when a gunshot was heard, prompting the officer to pause.
Subsequent shots followed rapidly as the Border Patrol agent continued firing. In the video, the officer steps back, claps three times, then walks away. Another video on social media depicts a different federal agent disarming Pretti just before his death. The agent, seemingly empty-handed, reached into the group restraining Pretti. After a motion toward Pretti’s lower back, where a firearm was allegedly holstered, the agent fled holding what appeared to be a gun. It remains uncertain if the weapon was Pretti’s legally owned nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun.
During a press conference, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino explained that agents were trying to apprehend Jose Huerta-Chuma, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador, when Pretti intervened. The incident led to further demonstrations in Minneapolis and online outrage. Trump administration officials portrayed Pretti as the aggressor, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stating that Pretti approached immigration officers with a gun. Despite videos showing Pretti being pushed by an officer and surrounded by agents, he was not seen wielding the handgun he was licensed to carry.
Pretti’s family denounced his death as a “murder,” accusing the Trump administration of spreading false information. The killing occurred amid a critical period for the GOP as they gear up for challenging midterm elections. Trump’s handling of immigration, once a political advantage, has seen declining approval ratings. The incident also highlighted tensions within the GOP regarding gun rights, as Pretti, though armed, was not shown holding a weapon in available bystander videos.
Administration officials raised questions about Pretti being armed, diverging from the party’s traditional support for gun ownership. This shift was notable considering the GOP’s strong backing of the Second Amendment. In the aftermath of Pretti’s death, gun rights advocates emphasized the legality of carrying firearms during protests, affirming the right of Minnesotans to bear arms while exercising their First Amendment rights.