Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke out on Wednesday about a new video circulating online involving Alex Pretti. The video allegedly shows Pretti, who was fatally shot by federal agents last Saturday, confronting and spitting on law enforcement officers days before his death.
During an appearance on CNN, Frey questioned why an incident from more than a week ago should impact how the public views the recent shooting.
The video in question was shared by a reporter from The News Movement and is currently being reviewed by Homeland Security Investigations. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said they are looking into whether the footage is authentic.
It appears to show Pretti damaging a federal vehicle and spitting on officers. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper brought this up to the mayor, asking if the clip changes the public’s understanding of the case.
Frey admitted to Cooper that he had not actually seen the video yet. However, he pushed back against the idea that the clip explains or excuses the fatal shooting that occurred later.
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“I actually haven’t yet seen the video, but are we actually making the argument that Alex Pretti should be killed for something that happened like 11 days prior to the shooting itself?” Frey asked.“I think we should be talking about the circumstances that actually led to the killing and what took place. And those circumstances, I mean, you can believe your own two eyes.”
He urged people to look at the circumstances that led directly to the killing. Frey told Cooper that when it comes to those immediate circumstances, people can simply trust their own eyes. The shooting happened on Saturday during a protest against ICE, where a Border Patrol agent shot Pretti.
The incident has sparked a major debate involving high-ranking officials. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the agents, accusing Pretti of being a domestic terrorist and alleging he approached agents with a firearm.
Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller referred to Pretti as an “assassin” on social media. President Donald Trump has since ordered a full investigation, and officials placed two agents on administrative leave on Wednesday.
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