An expert who reviewed the footage of Alex Pretti’s fatal shooting by ICE agents has urged people to ‘pay very close attention’ to a man in a gray jacket.
The 37-year-old intensive care nurse and registered Veterans Affairs healthcare worker, was shot and killed by ICE on Saturday (January 24).
Now, the conversation surrounding the fatal shooting of Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis has taken a fresh turn, as experts are now urging viewers to closely watch a specific person in the widely circulated footage of the incident.
Growing concern about ICE operation in Minneapolis
Pretti’s death marked the second fatal shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis in recent weeks, following the killing of 37-year-old Renee Good, a mom-of-three, at the hands of federal law enforcement officers on January 7.
Both fatal incidents have prompted widespread concern and criticism of the Trump administration’s expanded deployment of federal forces in the city.
ICE officers have been operating in Minneapolis for nine weeks, following direction from the President to crack down on crime and illegal immigration.
But officials and citizens alike have raised concerns about the scope of these operations, and the training, coordination, and accountability of the officers involved.
The Department of Homeland Security, led by Kirsty Noem, initially defended the actions of its agents, asserting that Pretti was armed and resisted attempts to disarm him.
They asserted that officers fired in self-defense.
Yet, video footage released from multiple angles has cast doubt on the narrative, showing the moments leading up to the shooting that contradict key elements of the government’s account.
Following the backlash, and reviewing the footage, it seems that Trump and his officials have backtracked on their initial stance that Pretti was a ‘domestic terrorist.’
The President has now reported that there will be an official review into the shooting.
Trump orders ICE to retreat from Minneapolis
In another unprecedented move, Trump has signaled a change in the federal response in Minnesota after the shooting of Pretti, with plans underway to adjust the role of immigration agents there, Le Monde reports.
He also plans to give local authorities greater involvement in the investigation, amid mounting political pressure and public outcry.
In a further shock announcement, Gregory Bovino, who has been leading the ICE operation in Minneapolis, has been fired and required to depart the city.
Bovino’s title as ‘commander at large’ has been scaled back, and he is expected to be replaced in Minnesota by former ICE director and Trump appointee Tom Homan, whom the President has described as ‘tough but fair.’
Recently released video footage has raised questions about the official version of events, prompting commentary from an expert.
Family disputes official account
Federal officials claimed Pretti approached agents with a 9mm handgun and resisted disarmament, prompting defensive shots.
However, viral videos show Pretti appearing to hold a phone rather than a weapon as multiple agents tackled him.
Pretti’s family has vehemently disputed the government’s account.
“He has his phone in his right hand, and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper-sprayed,” their statement read.
They called claims their son was a ‘domestic terrorist,’ as labeled by White House adviser Stephen Miller, ‘reprehensible and disgusting.’
“Please get the truth out about our son,” they concluded. “He was a good man.”
And now, a body language expert has drawn attention to a critical moment in video footage showing the fatal shooting in Minneapolis on January 24.
‘Pay very close attention to the man in gray’
Dr. G Explains, who analyzed the widely circulated footage on YouTube, has urged viewers to focus on one particular individual during his detailed review.
“I want you to pay very close attention to the man in the gray jacket,” he said, pointing to what he considers a pivotal sequence in the video.
According to the expert’s analysis, the man in the gray jacket can be seen removing a gun from Pretti’s waistband during the confrontation.
“You see him remove the gun from Alex Pretti’s pants,” Dr. G explained, noting the timing of what happened next was significant.
He observed that the moment the firearm was extracted, someone yelled ‘gun,’ yet the agent who removed it took no steps to alert others or de-escalate the situation.
“You literally see him turn around and run the other direction,” the expert added, suggesting the agent’s body language contradicted the official Department of Homeland Security narrative that Pretti posed an active threat.
