Two federal agents involved in killing of Alex Pretti are placed on administrative leave

Sofia Barnett, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Jan 28, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

MINNEAPOLIS — Two of the federal agents involved in the shooting of Alex Pretti during a federal enforcement operation last weekend have been placed on administrative leave, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson confirmed to the Minnesota Star Tribune on Jan. 28.

In a one-sentence statement, a CBP spokesperson said: “The two officers involved are on administrative leave. This is standard protocol.”

Although the statement did not specify that the two were the ones who shot Pretti, a preliminary report from federal investigators provided to members of Congress says two officers — a Border Patrol agent and a CBP officer — fired their guns during a chaotic scuffle involving several agents that was also recorded from multiple angles by bystanders.

The decision comes as federal authorities face growing scrutiny after two people were fatally shot by ICE agents in Minneapolis within weeks of each other.

Pretti, 37, a nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center, was shot Jan. 24 as ICE agents attempted to detain someone on a busy street lined with restaurants. Video and witness accounts show Pretti recording the encounter and moving toward agents after a woman was shoved. Agents then sprayed him in the face with a chemical irritant, threw him to the pavement and shot him 10 times at close range.

Federal officials have publicly defended the shooting as justified, but those claims have been undercut by witness testimony and video from the scene, which has circulated widely and fueled protests and calls for accountability.

The agents’ leave status had not been publicly disclosed in the days immediately following the shooting.

Pretti’s death followed another fatal ICE shooting earlier this month. On Jan. 7, ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good during a separate enforcement action.

When the Star Tribune asked the Department of Homeland Security about Ross’ current status, the agency did not answer the question.

The back-to-back shootings have sharpened questions about how ICE agents are operating in Minneapolis and how federal authorities are responding when deadly force is used in public view.

_____

Sarah Nelson of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this report.

_____