Two CBP agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti named amid ongoing DOJ probe
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Federal records have identified the two immigration agents who opened fire on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti, whose killing last weekend set off massive demonstrations and renewed calls for criminal investigations.
According to government records reviewed by ProPublica, the shooters were Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35. Both men were working as part of Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement sweep launched in December that sent scores of armed, masked agents into Minneapolis.
Pretti’s death came just days after another fatal shooting involving an immigration agent in the city that claimed the life of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three.
CBP, which employs both Ochoa and Gutierrez, has declined to release their names publicly and has shared limited details about what happened.
Lawmakers demand answers after Minneapolis immigration shooting
Pretti’s killing and the silence surrounding the agents involved come as the country grapples with the fallout from President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown.
Enforcement sweeps in cities nationwide have been marked by confrontations involving both immigrants and US citizens, often carried out by agents wearing masks and concealing their identities, a practice rarely seen in traditional law enforcement.
The second victim, Alex Pretti, was a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse who worked at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. His killing sparked outrage across the aisle, with lawmakers from both parties demanding answers.
“We must have a transparent, independent investigation into the Minnesota shooting, and those responsible, no matter their title, must be held accountable,” Republican Sen John Curtis of Utah posted on X.
CBP acknowledged the shooting in a notice sent to some members of Congress, stating that two agents fired Glock pistols during the encounter. The notice did not name the agents.
You’ve trusted me, and maintaining that trust matters. I’ve worked hard to be your eyes, ears, and voice.
— Senator John Curtis (@SenJohnCurtis) January 26, 2026
We must have a transparent, independent investigation into the Minnesota shooting, and those responsible—no matter their title—must be held accountable. Officials who rush…
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, confirmed the agents were placed on leave following the January 24 shooting.
After a week of protests and mounting pressure from lawmakers, the Justice Department announced that its Civil Rights Division is investigating the case.
Background of agents involved in Minneapolis shooting
Records show that both Ochoa and Gutierrez are from South Texas and were deployed to Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge.
Ochoa, a Border Patrol agent, joined CBP in 2018. Known as “Jesse” to friends and family, he graduated from the University of Texas–Pan American with a degree in criminal justice, according to his ex-wife, Angelica Ochoa.
A longtime resident of the Rio Grande Valley, Ochoa had dreamed for years of joining the Border Patrol and eventually achieved that goal, she said. By the time the couple separated in 2021, Ochoa had developed an interest in firearms, owning about 25 rifles, pistols, and shotguns, Angelica Ochoa said.
Gutierrez, 35, joined CBP earlier, in 2014, and works for the agency’s Office of Field Operations. He is assigned to a special response team that handles high-risk missions similar to those carried out by police SWAT units.
