A newly released Department of Homeland Security (DHS) internal report has intensified scrutiny over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 24, 2026. The document, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and made public on January 27, confirms that two agents discharged a total of 10 rounds during the encounter—six from one agent and four from the other—striking Pretti multiple times in the torso and extremities. Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene.

What has sparked widespread outrage is the report’s striking omission: unlike initial statements issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immediately after the shooting, the latest DHS account makes no mention of Pretti reaching for or brandishing a firearm. Early briefings had asserted that Pretti, who was legally carrying a concealed handgun, moved toward officers in a manner that caused them to fear imminent harm, prompting the use of lethal force. The updated report describes Pretti as “advancing toward agents” during a chaotic protest but stops short of alleging any specific movement toward his weapon.

The shift in language has ignited accusations of narrative revision and cover-up. Civil rights advocates, Pretti’s family, and independent observers point to the omission as evidence that the original justification for the shooting may have been overstated or fabricated. “They said he reached for his gun to make it sound like self-defense,” Pretti’s sister told reporters outside the family home. “Now they’re quietly dropping that claim because the body-cam footage doesn’t support it. My brother deserved better than to be smeared after he was already gone.”

Body-worn camera footage, partially released last week, shows a noisy, crowded protest scene with demonstrators pushing against police lines. Pretti can be seen moving forward from the group while holding an object in his hand—later confirmed to be a phone—before agents open fire. No clear frame shows him reaching toward his waistband or drawing the firearm, though the chaotic angle and distance have led to conflicting interpretations.

CBP officials have defended the agents, stating that “perceived imminent threat” in a high-stress environment justified the response. They note that Pretti failed to comply with repeated commands to stop and show his hands, and that officers believed he was armed based on intelligence and visual confirmation of a holster. However, the DHS report’s revised wording has eroded public trust. “If the gun reach was never there, why was it in the first statement?” asked civil rights attorney Maya Chen, who is representing Pretti’s family. “This looks like a deliberate attempt to retroactively justify lethal force.”

The incident occurred during a heated demonstration against federal immigration enforcement operations. Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse and U.S. citizen, had joined the protest to support immigrant coworkers and patients he had treated. Friends say he carried legally for personal protection amid rising tensions but had no intention of confronting law enforcement.

The shooting has reignited national debate over use-of-force protocols, especially when federal agents operate in civilian protest settings. Calls for an independent federal investigation have intensified, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announcing a state-level review and several members of Congress demanding full release of all body-cam footage and dispatch audio.