Two federal officers discharged their weapons during the fatal encounter with Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis, according to an initial report submitted to Congress by the Department of Homeland Security and reviewed by CNN.
The report, compiled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as part of its preliminary internal investigation, states that a struggle occurred between Pretti and federal officers before two officers fired their agency-issued firearms.
Initial DHS Findings
According to the report:
CBP personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody.
Pretti resisted, and a physical struggle ensued.
During the struggle, a Border Patrol agent repeatedly shouted, “He’s got a gun.”
Two Federal Officers Fired During Fatal Encounter With Alex Pretti, DHS Says
Approximately five seconds later, one Border Patrol agent fired a Glock 19, and a CBP officer fired a Glock 47, both issued by the agency.
The report does not specify whether bullets from one or both weapons struck Pretti.
Questions had circulated publicly about whether Pretti’s own firearm was discharged during the encounter. The DHS report states that the shots fired came from officers’ service weapons. A CNN review of available video footage indicates that an officer appeared to remove Pretti’s firearm from his waistband moments before shots were fired.
Following the shooting, a Border Patrol agent reported taking possession of Pretti’s firearm and securing it in a vehicle, according to the report.
Medical Response
The report says CBP personnel attempted life-saving measures after the shooting, including cutting Pretti’s clothing and applying chest seals to his wounds.
More than ten minutes later, Minneapolis Fire Department emergency medical personnel transported Pretti to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 9:32 a.m.
Events Leading Up to the Encounter
The report also describes events immediately preceding the confrontation. A Border Patrol officer was approached by two female civilians blowing whistles. The officer ordered them to move out of the roadway. When they did not comply, the officer pushed them away, and one of the women ran toward a man later identified as Pretti.
Officers then attempted to detain Pretti, leading to the struggle described in the report.
Ongoing Investigations
The CBP report is the first official document released from several ongoing investigations into the shooting. Additional probes are being conducted by:
CBP Office of Professional Responsibility
Homeland Security Investigations
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
An autopsy is being conducted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office. CBP investigators have indicated they will request the official findings once the examination is complete.
Authorities have said the investigation remains ongoing and that additional information will be released as it becomes available.



