🚨 The video NO ONE expected to surface is now impossible to ignore 😱

Alex Pretti — the compassionate ICU nurse everyone mourned as a hero who died helping a stranger during the Minneapolis chaos — but this newly leaked footage changes EVERYTHING.

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As the nation grapples with the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, a fresh wave of controversy has erupted with the emergence of previously unseen video footage. The clips, which surfaced publicly in late January, capture Pretti in a heated confrontation with immigration enforcement officers just 11 days before his death — prompting many to question whether the image of a gentle, veteran-caring ICU nurse aligns with the man now seen on camera.

Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was widely remembered by colleagues, family, and supporters as a dedicated professional who spent his days comforting and honoring America’s veterans, often standing bedside during their final moments. A December 2024 hospital video showed him paying tribute to a deceased patient, a gesture that humanized him amid the tragedy. Yet the newly circulating footage paints a more confrontational picture, leading to intense debate over his character and the events leading to his killing.

The videos, verified by multiple outlets including CNN, ABC News, BBC, and The News Movement, were recorded on January 13, 2026, during protests against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. In one clip, Pretti is seen shouting at federal agents blocking an intersection, using expletives, and then kicking the tail light of their vehicle as it attempted to drive away. An agent exits, forcefully pins Pretti to the ground, and a physical struggle ensues. Pretti’s winter coat comes off during the scuffle, and at one point, what appears to be a handgun is visible in his waistband — though he makes no move to reach for it. Witnesses and family representatives have confirmed the man’s identity as Pretti, with facial recognition analysis by BBC Verify yielding a 97% match.

The incident reportedly left Pretti with a broken rib, adding to questions about prior tensions with authorities. Protesters and bystanders described the scene as chaotic, with Pretti among those voicing opposition to the raids. He held a permit to carry a concealed firearm, obtained about three years earlier, though his ex-wife Rachel Canoun noted he rarely carried it around her due to her discomfort.

This prior clash contrasts sharply with bystander videos from the January 24 shooting itself. Multiple angles — including cellphone recordings, dashboard camera footage from a nearby vehicle, and analyses by major networks — show Pretti holding a cellphone (not a weapon) while directing traffic and attempting to assist a woman pushed to the ground by an agent. Chemical irritant is deployed, Pretti raises his hands and moves to help her up, and agents tackle him. One officer appears to remove a handgun from Pretti’s holster before multiple shots are fired — at least 10 in under five seconds, per forensic audio reviews. Pretti died at the scene, his last words reportedly checking on the woman’s well-being.

The Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection initially described Pretti as a threat who approached agents armed, with some officials labeling the incident as involving a potential “would-be assassin” or “domestic terrorism” risk. Pretti’s family has called these claims “reprehensible lies,” insisting he was unarmed in intent and acting protectively. Two agents involved were placed on paid administrative leave pending investigation, and calls for body camera footage and full transparency have intensified.

The new January 13 videos have fueled a reassessment of Pretti’s public persona. Supporters argue the clips show a passionate advocate standing against perceived injustice — consistent with his participation in post-George Floyd protests near his former neighborhood. His ex-wife, in her first public comments, expressed no surprise at his involvement, describing him as a Democratic voter who felt injustice deeply but was never physically confrontational in her experience. She noted the marriage ended over two years prior amid his growing immersion in activism, with no contact since she relocated.

Critics, however, point to the aggression in the footage — shouting, property damage, physical resistance — as evidence of escalation that may have contributed to the fatal encounter. Online discussions question whether Pretti’s concealed carry and prior altercation indicate a pattern of confrontation with law enforcement, challenging the narrative of an innocent bystander caught in chaos.

Pretti’s family, including parents Michael and Susan Pretti, have emphasized his kindness and commitment to veterans, rejecting any portrayal of him as dangerous. They hired attorneys linked to the Derek Chauvin prosecution, signaling potential civil action. Protests demanding justice have continued in Minneapolis, with vigils at the shooting site growing daily. High-profile voices, including late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, have condemned the incident as a “vile and heartless” act by ICE, while others debate the broader context of aggressive immigration enforcement.

Misinformation has also swirled: false images purporting to show Pretti in drag or unrelated contexts have been debunked by BBC and others, highlighting how quickly narratives can distort amid high emotion.

As forensic breakdowns and witness statements accumulate — some showing an agent from the January 13 incident reappearing on January 24 — the case grows more complex. Was Pretti a compassionate healer who crossed a line in the heat of protest? Or did mounting frustrations from repeated clashes culminate in tragedy? The videos force viewers to confront these questions head-on, with no easy answers.

The investigation continues, with federal reviews underway and public pressure mounting for accountability. For now, the footage ensures that Alex Pretti’s story — once defined by bedside compassion — is now inseparable from street-level confrontation, leaving the nation to wrestle with the haunting question: was the man mourned truly the same one captured on camera?