FEDERAL agents who opened fire on Alex Pretti have been named as the Department of Justice opens a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting in Minneapolis.
Border Patrol Agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection Officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, fired a total of 10 shots at Pretti, 37, during a confrontation on January 24, ProPublica reported.
The shooting happened at the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue during an immigration enforcement operation.
The Department of Justice confirmed on Friday that it has opened an investigation into the killing, marking a sharp shift from the administration’s earlier stance that the case would remain under an internal Department of Homeland Security review.
Ochoa and Gutierrez were assigned to Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge, the administration’s effort to crack down on illegal migrants in the city.
Customs and Border Protection has so far refused to officially verify the identities of the agents involved.
Ochoa, who reportedly goes by Jesse, joined CBP in 2018.
Gutierrez has been with Border Patrol since 2014.
According to a new government report, the shooting unfolded around 9am when agents were confronted by protesters who were “yelling and blowing whistles” and blocking the roadway.
After “several verbal requests” to clear the area, CBP said two women refused orders to leave the street and were pushed away.
One ran toward Pretti, and both again refused to move.
An officer deployed pepper spray and attempted to arrest Pretti.
“CBP personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody. Pretti resisted CBP personnel’s efforts and a struggle ensued,” the report states.
During the struggle, a Border Patrol agent yelled, “He’s got a gun!” multiple times.
About five seconds later, one agent fired a CBP-issued Glock 19 and the other fired a Glock 47.
Pretti was struck by all 10 rounds.
The report alleges that when an officer shouted “gun,” there was no evidence Pretti had taken it off his hip.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show an agent had disarmed Pretti moments before he was shot several times in the back.
An agent secured Pretti’s gun shortly after the shooting.
CBP attempted lifesaving measures, applying chest seals at 9.02am, and EMS arrived three minutes later.
Pretti was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center at 9.14am but was pronounced dead at 9.32am.
CBP previously said the two agents were placed on administrative leave and given mental health support as standard procedure.
Sources say they were barred from field duty and reassigned to desk roles upon returning.
