The shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis came barely days after another protester in the city, Renee Nicole Good, was shot and killed by an ICE agent. The incidents have led to widespread protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown
Two federal immigration agents who shot and killed Alex Pretti during an encounter in Minneapolis last week have been identified, according to documents reviewed by ProPublica. The records name Jesus Ochoa, a 43-year-old Border Patrol agent, and Raymundo Gutierrez, a 35-year-old Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, as the shooters in the encounter that left Pretti dead last weekend.
The killing has triggered days of protests in Minneapolis and renewed calls for criminal and civil rights investigations. Both agents were assigned to Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement operation launched in December that deployed armed and masked federal agents across the city.
The shooting came just days after another Minneapolis protester, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was killed by a different immigration agent.
Pretti’s death has drawn scrutiny amid President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign.
Reactions to the Minneapolis Shootings
Lawmakers from both parties have called for an independent investigation. “We must have a transparent, independent investigation into the Minnesota shooting, and those responsible—no matter their title—must be held accountable,” Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah wrote on X.
CBP notified some members of Congress on Tuesday that two agents fired Glock pistols during the altercation but did not name them. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later confirmed the agents were placed on leave following the 24 January shooting.
After a week of protests, the Justice Department said on Friday that its Civil Rights Division had opened an investigation. A DOJ spokesperson declined to say whether DHS had provided evidence such as body-camera footage.
What We Know About the Agents
Ochoa joined CBP in 2018 and Gutierrez joined in 2014 and works in CBP’s Office of Field Operations. He is assigned to a special response team that carries out high-risk operations similar to police SWAT units. Records show both men are from south Texas.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Gregory Bovino, who had overseen immigration enforcement operations in several Democratic-led cities, was removed from his role as Border Patrol commander at large and reassigned to El Centro, California.
According to a notice sent to Congress, the shooting occurred after officers attempted to remove Pretti and a female protester from the roadway.
“The woman and Pretti did not move,” the report said. “CBP personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody. Pretti resisted CBP personnel’s efforts and a struggle ensued.”
The report states that one agent shouted “He’s got a gun!” before two agents discharged their weapons.
Pretti was legally carrying a handgun at the time, state and federal officials have said. Some analyses of bystander video appear to show an agent removing the weapon before shots were fired, though officials say the footage is inconclusive.
Videos shared online show Pretti filming federal agents in a popular food and arts district. During the encounter, a masked agent appears to push a woman to the ground. Pretti steps in and is pepper-sprayed before being tackled by multiple officers. Approximately 10 shots are then heard as bystanders scream.
Federal officials, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, initially said Pretti had attempted to attack agents. Bovino said officers fired after “fearing for [their] life”. Stephen Miller, a senior Trump adviser, initially described Pretti as “a would-be assassin” but later said CBP officers “may not have been following” protocol.
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have accused the Justice Department of obstructing state-level investigations. “DOJ has also blocked prosecutors and agents from cooperating with state law enforcement officials and prevented state officials from accessing evidence,” the committee said in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
