Witnesses swore that Preti did not use a weapon. Federal agents then appeared to be counting Preti’s “gunshot wounds,” the witness wrote.
Identity of American citizen shot dead by Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis revealed
The man shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis has been identified as Alex Preti, a U.S. citizen and intensive care unit nurse.
Witnesses to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man by Border Patrol agents say in new court documents that they did not see the 37-year-old ICU nurse brandishing a gun and that federal agents “counted the number of bullet wounds” instead of administering first aid.
The affidavit, filed in federal court, comes just hours after Alex Preti, a U.S. citizen and Department of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, was shot and killed on Jan. 24 when he was confronted by immigration agents conducting an operation in the city. Preti had a licensed gun and shortly after the shooting, federal officials said he intended to use it to commit “domestic terrorism.”
A late witness statement Saturday contradicts a story shared by Homeland Security officials and provides one of the most detailed accounts yet of what happened.
“I saw him yelling at ICE officers, but he did not attack them or brandish any kind of weapon,” the witness wrote of Preti in a statement made under threat of perjury. “Suddenly, an ICE officer pushed the man to the ground. Although my view of the altercation was partially obstructed, several seconds later I could see at least four ICE agents pointing guns at the man. I then saw the officers shoot the man at least six or seven times.”
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem told reporters on January 24 that “this individual committed an act of domestic terrorism by coming with weapons and ammunition to disrupt law enforcement operations by federal law enforcement officers.”
He said the semi-automatic handgun and two magazines Preti had in his possession showed he intended to “inflict maximum damage and kill law enforcement.”
Agency officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new court filing.
The declaration was made in connection with a class action lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Minnesota against the Department of Homeland Security, accusing the agency of using intimidation tactics reminiscent of “pre-World War II Germany and Pinochet’s Chile” to chill free speech protected by the First Amendment.
“I’m counting bullet wounds.”
The witness, whose name was redacted, is a doctor who lives near where the shooting occurred, according to court filings. Witnesses said they awoke Saturday to the sound of “screaming from outside” and saw Preti “yelling at ICE officers.”
“I saw him yelling at ICE officers, but he did not attack them or brandish a weapon of any kind,” the witness wrote. “Suddenly, an ICE officer pushed the man to the ground. Although my view of the altercation was partially obstructed, several seconds later I could see at least four ICE agents pointing guns at the man. I then saw the officers shoot the man at least six or seven times.”
The witness then went to tend to Preeti’s wounds. Witnesses said officials did not administer first aid.
“I was confused as to why the victim was on my side, as that is not standard practice,” the pediatrician wrote. “Checking for a pulse and performing CPR are standard practice. Instead of doing either of those, the ICE officers appeared to be counting the number of gunshot wounds on him.”
