Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino has given a startling defense for the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, who was shot dead by his officers in broad daylight on Saturday.
Bovino joined CNN‘s Dana Bash on Sunday, where he was mercilessly grilled about ICU nurse Pretti’s death on the streets of in Minneapolis – just weeks after protester Renee Nicole Good was killed inside her car during a skirmish with ICE agents.
Horrific footage of Pretti, who was legally armed with a handgun, struggling with the Border Patrol officers before being shot on the ground has sent shockwaves across America – with politicians on both sides of the line condemning the violent actions.
Bovino, however, failed to give a straight answer when asked if Pretti, 37, ever pulled out his weapon to threaten law enforcement – and instead placed blame on the deceased.
‘We do know that the suspect did bring a weapon, a loaded nine-millimeter high-capacity handgun, to a riot,’ Bovino told Bash.
‘We do know that as far as what happened in that intervening moment, with the video that you just that you just showed, that’s going to come to light through the investigation that’s being investigated, and those facts and those questions will be answered soon enough,’ Bovino continued.
The border patrol leader also claimed that his agents, who were present during the incident, are the true victims of the situation when asked by Bash if he was blaming Pretti for being involved in the scene by filming it.
‘The victim, the victims are the Border Patrol agents,’ Bovino claimed, before adding that Pretti ‘put himself in that situation,’ and doubling down that ‘the victims are the Border Patrol agents there.’
Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino speaks during a press conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal on January 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
A Minneapolis man who was gunned down during a struggle with federal agents has been identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti
Video footage released Sunday revealed the moments leading up to the death of the 37-year-old Pretti, who was shot dead by a border agent on Saturday in Minneapolis.
Frames showed Pretti just before the fatal shooting after 9am near Glam Doll Donuts at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue.
Pretti could be seen confronting the agents with his phone in hand, angled in their direction.
One agent backed Pretti toward the sidewalk, where the rest of the altercation unfolded.
In another video, seemingly taken moments later, Pretti was seen struggling with federal agents just seconds before he was shot.
As he tried to push the official away, the agent pulled out pepper spray and began unleashing the canister in Pretti’s face.
More agents ran toward him as Pretti and two other civilians struggled with the officers.
Several officers and civilians tumbled to the ground in a pile-up as onlookers shouted and honked nearby.
As more and more agents ran toward the struggle, multiple shots rang out, killing Petti.
At a news conference, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the dead man had no serious criminal history and a record that showed only some parking tickets.
Law enforcement sources said Saturday their records show Pretti had no serious criminal history.
Pretti appeared to be filming the interaction prior to being allegedly shot
O’Hara said the man was a ‘lawful gun owner’ with a permit.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told the Daily Mail that the victim was armed with two magazines and that the gun has since been recovered by federal authorities.
DHS shared a photo of the firearm which was seen lying on the passenger seat of a car.
DHS has since shared its account of the shooting on X, saying the deadly incident began as a ‘targeted operation against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault.’
‘An individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun,’ the department wrote. ‘The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted.’
