URGENT UPDATE: A disturbing video has emerged showing a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officer clapping moments after protestor Alex Jeffrey Pretti was shot and killed on July 15, 2023, during an ICE protest in Minneapolis. The incident unfolded around 9:00 AM near Glam Doll Donuts, igniting outrage and prompting immediate calls for accountability.
The footage reveals the officer, clad in a police vest over a black hoodie, running toward where Pretti was pinned to the ground by Border Patrol agents. As the situation escalated, a gunshot rang out, causing the officer to halt abruptly. What followed was even more shocking—after stepping back, the officer clapped his hands three times before walking away as multiple shots were fired.
Pretti, a 37-year-old Minnesota resident and U.S. citizen, had approached federal agents while filming them with his phone, escalating tensions that led to his tragic death. In a video shared widely online, he was seen confronting the agents, who were attempting to arrest Jose Huerta-Chuma, an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador.
The family of Pretti has condemned his death as a “murder,” accusing the Trump administration of spreading “sickening lies” about him. They labeled the White House’s response as “reprehensible and disgusting.”
In a subsequent video, a federal agent appears to disarm Pretti shortly before the shooting. The agent, who initially seemed empty-handed, reached into the group restraining Pretti and allegedly retrieved a firearm from his lower back. However, it remains unclear if the weapon was Pretti’s legally owned nine-millimeter handgun. This uncertainty raises critical questions about the events leading up to the shooting.
The DHS has stated that agents attempted to disarm Pretti, claiming he “violently resisted.” They justified the shooting by asserting that an agent fired in self-defense, fearing for the safety of themselves and others. Medical assistance was rendered on-site, but Pretti was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem characterized the protest as a “violent riot,” disputing claims of peaceful demonstration. “I don’t know any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition,” she stated in a press conference in Washington, D.C. Noem did not provide clarity on whether Pretti was disarmed before the shooting or when the firearm was recovered.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Pretti had a clean record, with only minor parking violations, and was a lawful gun owner. He worked as a registered nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, earning approximately $90,783 annually.
Following the shooting, protests erupted near the scene, with thousands gathering to express their anger over the police response and the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis.
As this story develops, the community and officials alike are calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death and the actions of the officers involved. Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available.
