Former VP Mike Pence urges probe after 'deeply troubling' images of Alex Pretti's death surface
WASHINGTON, DC: Former Vice President Mike Pence said that images of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis are “deeply troubling,” calling for an immediate and transparent investigation into the incident.
In a post on X, Pence offered prayers to Pretti’s family and said that law enforcement “at every level” must address the concerns being raised in the community.
“The images of this incident are deeply troubling and a full and transparent investigation of this officer-involved shooting must take place immediately,” Pence wrote.
Mike Pence says ‘law and order’ must coexist with freedom
Pence stopped short of directly criticizing federal immigration enforcement, but emphasized that upholding the law must not come at the expense of Americans’ constitutional rights.
The former vice president said that the public deserved to see the nation’s laws enforced “while preserving their constitutional rights,” adding, “That’s how Law and Order and Freedom work together in America.”
Pence specifically referenced the Second Amendment, underscoring the right to bear arms amid growing scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death.
Videos released contradict DHS narrative of firearm use
Federal officials have accused Pretti of approaching agents while brandishing a firearm. However, video footage circulating online appears to complicate that account.
The videos show Pretti holding a cellphone at the start of the encounter and do not appear to show him reaching for his holstered weapon before he was shot. Police have described Pretti as a lawful gun owner. Minnesota allows concealed carry with a permit.
Gun rights advocates, including the National Rifle Association, have criticized what they describe as premature condemnation of Pretti before the conclusion of an investigation.
Multiple videos captured from different angles appear to contradict the Department of Homeland Security’s description of the encounter.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti approached agents with a firearm and “reacted violently” when officers attempted to disarm him. But the footage shows an agent grabbing Pretti’s gun from behind while he was facedown on his knees.
Tim Walz deploys National Guard and demands ICE agents leave
The shooting has prompted a sharp response from Minnesota Gov Tim Walz, who activated the state’s National Guard and demanded the withdrawal of federal agents from the state.
“Donald Trump needs to pull these 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another person,” Walz said at a news conference.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of federal enforcement operations in Minnesota, as calls grow for accountability and clarity over how the encounter turned deadly.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump announced on Monday, January 26, that he was dispatching White House ‘border czar’ Tom Homan to Minnesota to assume direct oversight of federal operations in the state.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said Homan would arrive “tonight” to oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity and coordinate with officials leading investigations into what the administration describes as widespread financial fraud.
