USA Fatal shootings: Parents accuse US government of lying
The parents of the man shot dead by federal ICE agents in Minneapolis accuse the officers of shooting their son for no legitimate reason.
25.01.2026, 04:46
SDA
The government, which had described the officer's shooting as self-defense, is lying, according to a statement by Alex Pretti's family published by several US media outlets. Contrary to claims, the 37-year-old nurse did not pose a threat to the officers when he was attacked by the emergency services.
"The heinous lies the government is spreading about our son are reprehensible and repugnant," the statement continued. "Alex is clearly not holding a gun when he is attacked by Trump's murderous and cowardly ICE thugs." He was merely trying to protect a woman brought to the ground by an ICE officer and was pepper-sprayed before the shots were fired. The truth must be brought to light.
Surrounded by eight officers - then shots are fired
Videos from various perspectives of the incident on Saturday morning (local time) on a street in the large US city are circulating on the internet. One of them, which has been verified by the German Press Agency, shows several hooded men in riot gear forcibly bringing a person to the ground and attempting to restrain them. This is obviously Alex Pretti. In the end, he is surrounded by eight police officers.
Then shots are fired, according to the sound there are about ten. It is possible that different people are shooting, but it is not clear from the footage. Even when the person is lying motionless on the ground, at least one of the hooded men continues to shoot at him. The videos reviewed by dpa do not provide any information on whether the man was armed. In one of the videos circulating on social networks, it appears that a pistol may have been taken from him - albeit before the first shots were fired.
Ministry describes alleged threat situation
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Pretti was armed. The federal agents had been involved in an operation against a foreign national wanted for assault who was believed to be in the US illegally when a person with a semi-automatic pistol approached. The ministry shared a photo of the suspected weapon on X. The officers tried to disarm the 37-year-old, but he resisted. An officer then fired the fatal shots. According to local police, the man who was shot had generally been authorized to carry a weapon.
