An expert has pointed to a detail that may help explain the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old ICU nurse killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on January 24.Pretti, a U.S. citizen who worked caring for military veterans, was shot during ongoing protests against federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. The Trump administration has claimed Pretti posed a violent threat, with officials describing him as a “gunman” who intended to harm law enforcement.

However, multiple videos and eyewitness accounts appear to contradict that narrative. Footage shows Pretti holding his phone while attempting to help bystanders after agents pushed a woman to the ground. Witnesses say he was pepper-sprayed, restrained, and pinned to the floor before being shot multiple times, despite appearing unarmed at the moment force was used.

Rob Doar, a lawyer for the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, suggested a critical possibility: the first gunshot may have been an accidental discharge after an agent removed Pretti’s legally carried handgun from its holster. Doar said it is “highly likely” that a negligent discharge triggered panic among other agents, leading to the fatal gunfire.

While federal officials confirmed a handgun was recovered from Pretti’s waistband, video evidence shows he was holding only his phone when agents engaged him. Former law-enforcement experts have also said the footage does not support claims that he intended to attack officers. Pretti’s family has strongly rejected the administration’s statements, describing him as compassionate and selfless, and calling for the truth to be fully exposed through an independent investigation.