Federal Agent Kills American—Identity HIDDEN by DHS

A federal Border Patrol agent shot and killed an American citizen in Minneapolis, yet the Department of Homeland Security refuses to publicly identify the shooter—raising alarming questions about accountability when federal officers operate with greater secrecy than local police.

Story Snapshot

Federal Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old licensed nurse with no serious criminal history and a lawful gun permit, on January 31, 2026
DHS continues withholding the agent’s identity despite multiple videos documenting the shooting, while the FBI refuses to investigate
Minnesota state investigators were barred from accessing the crime scene by federal authorities, creating an accountability vacuum
DOJ opened investigations targeting Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz instead of the federal agents involved in two fatal shootings within weeks

Second Fatal Shooting in Weeks Sparks Transparency Crisis

Alex Jeffrey Pretti’s death outside Glam Doll Donuts on January 31, 2026, marked the second fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis within the same month. The Border Patrol agent who killed the 37-year-old licensed nurse remains unidentified, despite video evidence captured by multiple witnesses. DHS claimed self-defense, yet denied Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators access to the scene. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed Pretti had no serious criminal history and was a lawful gun owner with a permit—raising questions about why a licensed professional became a federal enforcement target.

Pattern of Federal Opacity Emerges

The unnamed Border Patrol agent’s protected status follows a troubling pattern established by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who fatally shot 37-year-old Renée Good earlier in January 2026. Ross was eventually identified only after significant public pressure, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the FBI would not investigate him. Blanche’s justification—that the incident “has been reviewed by millions of Americans because it was recorded on phones”—suggests federal agencies believe public video footage substitutes for independent investigation. This reasoning contradicts basic accountability principles and undermines the rule of law conservatives hold dear.

Video Evidence Contradicts Federal Self-Defense Claims

Investigative analysis by the New York Times and Bellingcat found no indication Jonathan Ross had been run over by Renée Good’s vehicle, contradicting DHS’s self-defense narrative. Their forensic video examination revealed Ross positioned himself dangerously near her vehicle, creating the confrontation he later claimed justified lethal force. These findings expose a pattern noted in reporting: DHS and federal agents have lied in narratives about past shootings, including the Good killing in Minneapolis and Silverio Villegas González’s death in suburban Chicago. When federal agencies control investigations of their own personnel while blocking state oversight, Americans face government power without meaningful checks—a scenario the Constitution’s framers specifically warned against.

Federal Investigations Target Local Officials, Not Shooters

Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two Minneapolis residents, the DOJ opened investigations into Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz for allegedly impeding federal operations. Frey asked pointedly after watching video of Pretti’s death: “How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?” Walz characterized the investigations as “weaponizing the justice system against your opponents” and noted “the only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.” Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have reportedly resigned over the DOJ’s selective investigation approach, signaling institutional concern about political retaliation replacing impartial justice.

Accountability Gap Threatens Constitutional Protections

The refusal to identify federal agents involved in fatal shootings creates a dangerous precedent where enforcement personnel operate without the transparency applied to local police. When masked federal agents can shoot American citizens, deny state investigators access to crime scenes, and face no independent scrutiny, constitutional protections erode. Pretti’s lawful gun ownership and clean record underscore that federal opacity shields agents regardless of victim culpability. This accountability gap strikes at principles conservatives defend: limited government power, due process protections, and the checks-and-balances system that prevents federal overreach. Without transparent identification protocols and independent investigations, federal agents effectively gain immunity—an authoritarian outcome incompatible with constitutional governance and the rule of law Americans expect from their government.