‘It is wrong’: Witness in court docs disputes DHS account of Minneapolis shooting

A tragic incident unfolded in Minneapolis on Saturday, resulting in the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old man by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. According to a witness who provided a court declaration, the man lost his life while trying to assist a woman who had been pushed to the ground by federal agents.

The witness, whose identity was kept anonymous in documents filed by the ACLU of Minnesota, recounted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had pepper-sprayed several observers, including Alex Pretti, before one agent forcefully pushed a woman down. In a selfless act, Pretti went to her aid, only to be met with aggression from the agents.

Despite the witness’s account that Pretti was not resisting but rather trying to help the woman, the agents allegedly threw him to the ground and proceeded to shoot him multiple times. The witness managed to capture the events on video, providing crucial evidence of the incident.

The ACLU of Minnesota swiftly filed an emergency motion to lift a stay on a federal judge’s order that prevented immigration agents from arresting protesters or using nonlethal weapons against them. This legal action was deemed necessary in light of the recent shooting, highlighting the urgent need to protect individuals exercising their constitutional rights.

While the Department of Homeland Security claimed that Pretti had approached officers with a handgun and resisted violently when they tried to disarm him, the witness’s testimony contradicted this narrative. The witness asserted that Pretti did not pose a threat and was merely attempting to assist the woman before being unjustly attacked by the agents.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino alleged that Pretti had malicious intentions and labeled his actions as “domestic terrorism.” They maintained that the agents acted in self-defense, a claim disputed by the witness who refuted the allegations of wrongdoing on Pretti’s part.

In a concerning development, Bovino revealed that the officers involved in the shooting were still on duty but had been relocated to undisclosed locations for their safety due to concerns about doxxing. Despite federal officials’ justifications for the shooting, the witness’s testimony painted a different picture, emphasizing that Pretti’s actions were misconstrued and that he did not pose a threat to the agents.

This tragic incident has sparked controversy and raised questions about law enforcement’s use of force and the protection of individuals’ rights during protests. The unfolding events in Minneapolis serve as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency, accountability, and upholding constitutional freedoms in all interactions between law enforcement and civilians.

ABC News’ Victoria Arancio contributed to this report.