An eyewitness to the deadly shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents says he watched the entire incident unfold and is now hiding out because he fears retaliation. The man, identified as Jose Huerta Chuma, shared his account with CBS News, describing the moments that led to Pretti’s death during what began as an immigration enforcement action in south Minneapolis.
The shooting happened on January 24 during an operation by U.S. immigration agents in Minneapolis known as Operation Metro Surge, a controversial enforcement campaign that has triggered protests and outrage in the city. Pretti, 37, a registered nurse and Minneapolis resident, was shot and killed by United States Customs and Border Protection agents in the Whittier neighborhood. The fatal encounter added to mounting tensions after another federal agent had killed Renée Good earlier in the month.
Huerta Chuma told CBS News that he was close to the scene when Pretti was first tackled by federal officers. He described chaotic moments as agents and civilians grappled with each other. After the shooting, Huerta Chuma said he fled and has been staying in hiding, worried about legal consequences and possible federal pursuit.
The exact details of what triggered the shooting remain contested. Federal officials have offered a version in which Pretti approached agents with a firearm and resisted efforts to disarm him. Authorities initially said the agents were attempting to detain Huerta Chuma, whom they named as the target of the operation, and that Pretti’s actions posed a threat.
However, statements from the Minnesota Department of Corrections dispute parts of the federal narrative, saying records show the man U.S. agents claimed to be pursuing had no criminal history in Minnesota and was not under state supervision.
Video of the incident circulated online after the shooting, and some bystanders and activist witnesses challenged the federal version of events, saying Pretti did not raise his weapon or pose an immediate danger when he was shot.
The Justice Department has since launched a civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death, with the FBI and the department’s Civil Rights Division examining whether the use of force was lawful. Former Homeland Security investigations had initially been leading the probe, but public pressure and video evidence pushed federal authorities to expand the review.
The fatal shooting has drawn national attention and prompted protests and demands for justice in Minneapolis and beyond. Pretti’s family and local leaders have called for transparency and accountability, while the incident has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration enforcement tactics in U.S. cities.
Summary: An eyewitness, Jose Huerta Chuma, says he saw the Minneapolis shooting that killed Alex Pretti during a federal immigration operation and is now in hiding. The incident, captured on video and widely shared, has sparked criticism of federal agents and disagreement over whether Pretti posed a threat. The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting while local records challenge some claims made by federal authorities.