The Department of Homeland Security is delving into the circumstances surrounding the tragic shooting of Alex Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis. Central to their investigation is whether the agents mistakenly believed they were under fire, leading to the fatal incident.

As reported by the New York Post, the investigation is exploring the possibility that an accidental discharge of Pretti’s Sig Sauer P320 pistol might have contributed to the confusion. This firearm, which was in the possession of an agent after being confiscated from Pretti, could have sparked the perception of an immediate threat.

Pretti, who worked as an ICU nurse for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and was legally licensed to carry the firearm, was shot approximately ten times by the agents. Unfortunately, he did not survive the encounter, with his life ending at the scene.

This tragedy unfolded while federal officers were engaged in immigration enforcement activities. Initial reports suggested that Pretti had been brandishing his weapon at the time, prompting the agents’ response.

A poignant image, provided by Pretti’s family, shows Alex J. Pretti, the man at the heart of this tragic event, forever remembered by those who knew him. His death has sparked questions and a thorough investigation into the actions that led to such a fatal misunderstanding.

“It was 100% an accidental discharge by the agent that relieved that person of their weapon. Because everyone’s guns were out, they think that there’s a shooting,” one source told the Post. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti “violently resisted” arrest and that a federal agent fired his weapon “fearing for his life.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks beside a screen showing an image of a handgun during a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2026. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

Footage of the incident shows an agent disarm Pretti shortly before he was killed. He entered into the initial scuffle with agents as he tried to assist another protester who had been pushed by law enforcement.

Sources familiar with the investigation told the newspaper that the agents involved were overworked and not trained to deal with protesters or types of confrontation they have endured while going about their duties. 

“None of those agents should’ve had their gun out. It’s a confluence of them being asked to do enforcement work that they are not trained for,” one source said.

A photo of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer over the weekend, is displayed at the shooting scene Monday in Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security is investigating whether U.S. Border Patrol agents thought they were being fired upon when one fatally shot Pretti. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

“All of this is avoidable. None of this should be happening.”

On Monday, President Donald Trump announced that border czar Tom Homan would be going to Minnesota amid violent clashes between federal authorities and anti-ICE agitators.