DHS looking into whether Alex Pretti’s gun went off by mistake, leading to fatal Minneapolis shooting.

Investigation into Fatal Shooting of Alex Preti

The Department of Homeland Security is currently looking into whether Alex Preti accidentally discharged his weapon after it was taken from him, causing Border Patrol agents to mistakenly believe that shots were fired. This information was reported by the Post.

Due to this accidental discharge while agents were handling the firearm, it seems other officers might have thought their lives were in danger, prompting them to make a split-second decision to fire at Preti, which resulted in his death, sources familiar with the investigation have indicated.

This new explanation differs from the initial claim made by DHS officials, who stated that Preti had been brandishing a Sig Sauer P320 pistol, a firearm he was legally allowed to carry.

One official noted, “It was 100% an agent’s mistake in discharging the weapon in question. We believe there was a shooting because everyone had their guns drawn.” This perspective has been corroborated by additional sources familiar with the ongoing investigation.

On the day of the incident, Border Patrol agents confronted Preti during a spontaneous anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis. Video footage shows that Preti positioned himself between federal agents and a woman being pepper-sprayed.

Witness recordings suggest that a shot was fired from Preti’s gun after an agent took it from his waistband. This shot led to other agents, at least one of whom had drawn their firearm, responding with approximately ten shots.

Sources involved with the case assert that the officers were overworked and lacking training to handle the confrontations that frequently occur with demonstrators, particularly with ICE Watch groups in Minneapolis. An official stated, “None of those officers should have pulled out a gun. It’s a combination of them being asked to perform enforcement actions they were not trained for.”

Concerns have also been raised about the morale of DHS employees, who find themselves serving dual roles as both immigration agents and local authorities. “There are really mixed feelings internally about the current situation; they’re not prepared to handle both the protests and this type of street-level enforcement,” one official commented.

This incident follows President Trump’s decision to send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota amid ongoing violent clashes between ICE agents and protesters. Meanwhile, the administration continues to support Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, despite increasing criticism from Democrats regarding his management of the Minneapolis situation and the statements made about Preti after the shooting.

As one source remarked, “Homan is just going there to assess the situation. It doesn’t signify a lack of confidence in Bovino; they hold him in high regard.”