Minneapolis Shooting: What Really Happened?

In a recent incident in Minneapolis, a man named Alex Pretti lost his life after being shot by federal officers. The initial reports from the U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) left out a crucial detail: Pretti was not holding a gun when he was shot. This is interesting because earlier statements from Trump officials had emphasized the presence of a weapon. Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot by two federal officers—a Border Patrol agent and a customs officer—after he refused to move from the street. The CBP's preliminary review mentioned that a customs officer tried to move Pretti and a woman out of the street, but they did not comply. The officer then used pepper spray on them. Here's where things get confusing. Top Trump administration officials initially described Pretti as an aggressor, saying he approached Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm handgun. However, they didn't mention that the gun was holstered. Stephen Miller, a White House aide, even called Pretti a "domestic terrorist" and a "would-be assassin, " but no evidence was provided to back up these claims.The video footage from the scene contradicted the officials' statements. It showed that Pretti's gun was removed from his waist by an agent just before the shooting. The CBP review, based on body-worn camera footage and documentation, stated that a struggle ensued when personnel tried to take Pretti into custody. During this struggle, a Border Patrol agent shouted "He's got a gun! " multiple times. Five seconds later, both the Border Patrol agent and the customs officer fired at Pretti. It's important to note that CBP customs officers typically work at ports of entry, screening passengers and goods. However, some have been assigned to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The identities of the agents involved and their experience with crowd control in urban environments remain unknown. The killing of Pretti sparked a national outcry and led Trump to adopt a more conciliatory tone. The CBP review highlighted the discrepancy between the officials' portrayal of the shooting and the video evidence.