MINNEAPOLIS — In a stunning reversal that underscores the deepening crisis within the Department of Homeland Security, federal officials confirmed Wednesday that the agents involved in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti have been placed on administrative leave.
The move marks a direct contradiction to the defiant stance taken by Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino just days ago, when he insisted the agents remained “on the job” for their own safety. The shift comes as a government report obtained by CBS News and The Minnesota Star Tribune reveals that two agents—one from U.S. Border Patrol and one from Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—discharged their weapons during the Saturday morning encounter, firing a total of ten shots into the ICU nurse as he lay pinned to the frozen pavement.
“Standard protocol is finally being followed, but the delay in doing so speaks volumes about the initial attempt to shield these officers from accountability,” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
The Evidence Gap: Disarmed Before the Volley
The administrative leave follows the viral spread of multi-angle bystander videos that have largely dismantled the Trump administration’s initial claims that Pretti was a “would-be assassin” who “brandished” a weapon.
A forensic breakdown of the footage, supported by a preliminary CBP report sent to Congress, highlights a devastating sequence:
- The Disarming: One video angle shows an agent in a gray jacket reaching into the scuffle and emerging with a handgun—later confirmed to be Pretti’s legally holstered weapon—before turning and running away from the fray.
- The Fatal Volley: Roughly one second after Pretti was disarmed and while his arms were pinned by at least four other agents, a Border Patrol agent shouted “Gun! Gun!” and opened fire at point-blank range.
- The Fallout: The internal government report notably makes no mention of Pretti reaching for or brandishing his firearm at any point during the confrontation.
A Leadership in Turmoil
The decision to sideline the agents coincides with a major shakeup in the federal command structure in Minnesota. Commander Gregory Bovino, who previously accused Pretti of attempting to “massacre law enforcement,” has been demoted and reassigned to a post outside the state.
While DHS Secretary Kristi Noem continues to face calls for her resignation from high-ranking Democrats, President Trump has attempted to “de-escalate” by deploying Border Czar Tom Homan to negotiate with Governor Tim Walz.
The Shifting Federal Stance:
- Saturday: DHS labels Pretti a “domestic terrorist” who violently resisted a disarming attempt.
- Monday: White House aide Stephen Miller defends the shooting as a thwarted assassination attempt.
- Wednesday: DHS retracts the “massacre” claim, citing a “chaotic scene,” and places the shooters on leave.
The ‘National Shutdown’ Looms
As the agents head to leave, the city they left behind remains a fortress. A memorial for Pretti at the corner of 26th and Nicollet continues to grow, fueled by a community that sees his death as the pinnacle of “Operation Metro Surge” excesses.
Activists have called for a “National Shutdown” this Friday to protest the continued presence of federal tactical units in American cities. Meanwhile, nearly 100 Twin Cities food shelves have signed a letter warning that the federal “siege” has left thousands of residents too terrified to leave their homes for basic necessities.
| Officer Status | Agency | Action Taken |
| Agent 1 | U.S. Border Patrol | Administrative Leave (Fired Glock 19) |
| Agent 2 | CBP Officer | Administrative Leave (Fired Glock 47) |
| Gregory Bovino | Border Patrol Command | Demoted / Removed from MN |
| HSI Unit | Investigations | Leading internal probe (amid conflict of interest claims) |
The Investigation Standoff
Despite the agents being placed on leave, a jurisdictional war remains. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is still being denied full access to federal evidence, including the specific government vehicle where Pretti’s cleared firearm was reportedly stored by agents immediately after the shooting—a move legal experts say may have compromised the chain of custody.
As the sun sets over a boarded-up South Minneapolis, the “standard protocol” of administrative leave has done little to quiet the demands for criminal charges. For a city that has seen this script before, the question is no longer whether the agents are on leave, but whether they will ever return to a badge.