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From a behavioral perspective, Dr. G questioned why an officer would retreat and turn his back if he truly believed the suspect remained armed and dangerous.
“If you genuinely believe someone poses an ongoing lethal threat, turning your back on them would be an extremely risky decision,” he explained. While acknowledging that officers could theoretically fear the presence of a second weapon, he stressed that the visible behavior did not align with that assumption.
Pretti’s family has been outspoken in condemning what they describe as false and damaging statements made by federal officials. In a public statement released after their son was portrayed as an armed aggressor, they accused the administration of spreading misinformation to justify the shooting.
“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” the family said. “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper-sprayed.”
They urged the public to focus on the evidence rather than rhetoric and to examine the footage carefully.
“Please get the truth out about our son,” the statement concluded. “He was a good man.”
As federal reviews continue, the convergence of video evidence, eyewitness testimony, and expert behavioral analysis has intensified public scrutiny. Civil rights advocates argue that the unresolved questions surrounding Pretti’s death reflect broader concerns about the use of force during federal immigration operations, particularly in crowded civilian settings.
For many observers, the case has become emblematic of a wider breakdown in trust between communities and federal authorities. The presence of unanswered questions—especially regarding whether Pretti was disarmed before shots were fired—has left calls for transparency growing louder by the day.
While DHS maintains that its agents acted appropriately, critics say the footage demands more than internal review. They argue that only a fully independent and transparent investigation can restore credibility and determine whether the official narrative aligns with what actually occurred on the ground.
As Minneapolis continues to grapple with the aftermath of back-to-back fatal encounters, the death of Alex Pretti remains a deeply polarizing and unresolved chapter. The focus on the agent in the gray jacket has not settled the debate—but it has sharpened it, forcing a closer examination of moments that may prove decisive in understanding how and why an unarmed man lost his life.