Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refused to give a clear answer when a reporter asked if Alex Pretti had actually “brandished” a gun before federal agents shot and killed him in Minneapolis. The secretary was asked several times on Saturday about this key detail, but she kept avoiding the question. Instead, she focused on saying that Pretti was blocking a law enforcement operation.
The incident has raised serious questions because video evidence appears to show something different from what federal officials are claiming. The reporter asked specifically, “Did the 37 year old, who had a license to carry, did he brandish a gun? And at what point did law enforcement retrieve the gun? And also the magazines from him?” This is an important question because in Minnesota, “brandishing” means “to display or wield a weapon.”
Instead of answering directly, Secretary Noem talked about Pretti’s intent and presence. According to Mediaite, she said, “This individual showed up to impede a law enforcement operation and assaulted our officers. They responded according to their training and took action to defend the officer’s life and those of the public around him.”
Video evidence contradicts the federal account of events
She added, “I don’t know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign. This is a violent riot when you have someone showing up with weapons and are using them to assault law enforcement officers.”
The video evidence tells a different story. Viral footage taken from several angles showed Pretti was pointing a camera at the ICE agents and recording them, but no gun was visible in his hand. One video showed him putting his arm around a woman and standing between her and an agent who was pushing her back.
He was then pepper-sprayed. The footage shows him being disarmed while he was pinned to the ground by at least six agents before any shots were fired. The reporter kept pushing, saying, “Video appears to show he’s disarmed before shots are fired, so I just want clarity on that.” Noem changed the subject again, focusing on the target of the operation.
She said the agents were doing a targeted action against someone who was in the country illegally and had a criminal conviction for domestic assault. Local leaders have been challenging the official DHS narrative about what happened during the incident.
She then returned to Pretti, saying, “This individual went and impeded their law enforcement operations, attacked those officers, had a weapon on him and multiple dozens of rounds of ammunition, wishing to inflict harm on these officers coming, brandishing like that, and impeding their work that they were doing.” It was clear she was not going to confirm or deny the brandishing claim.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Alex Pretti, the victim, had a lawful concealed carry license and was believed to be a lawful gun owner. The police chief noted that Pretti’s only previous interactions with law enforcement were related to parking tickets. O’Hara also stated that DHS had not provided his team with any specific details about the deadly incident itself.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was critical of the DHS account, saying, “Thank God, thank God, we have video because, according to DHS, these seven heroic guys took an onslaught of a battalion against them or something. It’s nonsense, people. It is nonsense, and it’s lies.”
The governor has been vocal about how Noem affected Minnesota’s investigation into the shooting. Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan, released a statement calling the administration’s claims “sickening lies.” They said video showed their son was holding a phone, not a gun, and that he was shielding a woman who was being pepper-sprayed.
Published: Jan 25, 2026 01:15 pm