New Records Reveal Names of Agents Who Shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis
Newly released government records now identify the two federal agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti during a deadly encounter on January 24. The agents are Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez, according to reporting by ProPublica and other outlets.
Pretti’s death — occurring amid Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement effort in Minneapolis — has ignited protests locally and across the U.S., with critics calling for accountability and transparency.
The government records viewed by independent newsrooms list Ochoa, 43, and Gutierrez, 35, as the two agents who fired their weapons on Pretti during the anti-ICE demonstration. Customs and Border Protection had not publicly released their names at the time of publication.
This development comes as the Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting, with the FBI now leading the probe. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the investigation, underscoring unresolved questions about the circumstances surrounding the fatal encounter.
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“What happened that day will be fully and fairly examined,” said DOJ officials in announcing the civil rights inquiry.
The agents’ identification intensifies ongoing debates over federal immigration enforcement tactics and police transparency, particularly given conflicting accounts of Pretti’s actions in the moments before he was shot.
Protests and solidarity actions continue nationwide as activists and community leaders demand release of body camera footage and further accountability.
Federal and local investigations are expected to produce more details in the coming weeks as legal reviews proceed.
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