Kolina Koltai

I'm still seeing influencers with large followings claim the new footage of Pretti is AI.

The real threat of AI disinformation is when people no longer believe real content thinking it's AI, and that future is unfortunately here.

A chaotic confrontation, a gun and 10 shots: A frame-by-frame analysis of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti Minnesota Star Tribune analyzed how another encounter with federal agents turned deadly.

Alex Pretti's interaction with federal agents on a Minneapolis street was caught on camera by several bystanders. That video does not support some of the claims made by Trump administration officials about the fatal shooting.

Black and white image. Oakland, Calif., Mar. 1942. A large sign reading "I am an American" placed in the window of a store, at [401 - 403 Eighth] and Franklin streets, on December 8, the day after Pearl Harbor. The store was closed following orders to persons of Japanese descent to evacuate from certain West Coast areas. Photo has older vehicle parked on the street in front of the grocery store

I will never forget what the US government did to Japanese Americans.

Photo from the LOC: www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...

@bellingcat.com performed additional analysis on the Pretti killing, specifically on the first shot.

There has been speculation that the first shot was from Pretti's gun, in the hands of the agent in the grey jacket, but video footage shows that it was the black beanie agent who shot first.

Huh. That sounds familiar.

We've been so busy with ICE that I didn't get a chance to let y'all know I was on @404media.co 's podcast with @samleecole.bsky.social talking about my investigations on AI deepfake porn.

This was a fun convo! This is what you would hear at my dinner table if you wanted to know about what I do.

Bellingcat.com's home page as of January 27, 2026. The four most recent articles are "Alex Pretti: Analysing Footage of Minneapolis CBP shooting" " Analysing Footage og Minneapolis ICE Shooting" "Five Shots in Five minutes: Analysing one federal agent's use of less-lethal launcher in Minneapolis" and "Identifying 'less-lethal' weapons used by DHS agents in US Immigration Raids and protests"

Looking at our home page right now, I hope we are making it clear that @bellingcat.com does not just report on Russia.

Hey, this was not this morning. This was Saturday morning, same day that Alex Pretti was killed, about a block away.

Really timely (timeless?) guide by @easybakeovensz.bsky.social on identifying the less-lethal weapons that federal agents have been using across the US.

I've seen a few people mistakenly say that hexachloroethane gas i being used in MN. Hopefully this guide will help w/correctly IDing in the future

I grew up with Alex Pretti The kind-hearted ICU nurse shot by ICE agents was my childhood best friend.

I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com

Yes, someone is heard yelling 'gun' in the footage. It is unclear specifically who yelled gun, but you can hear it in the footage before the agent who takes Pretti's gun leaves the scene.

Yes, DHS has used explosives on homes.

Like this case in Huntington Park, where they blasted the door down, with children in the house (6 yr old and 1 yr old). Everyone in the house is a US citizen.

Given the length of his coat and the placement of the holstered weapon near his lower back, I would guess they did not know he had a weapon until he was down.

Once body cam footage (with audio) is released, this would be extra confirmed.

True. He was just holding a cell phone.

bsky.app/profile/elio...

The gun in the video footage does appear to match the gun in this photo shared by DHS.
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The photo is not an old photo.
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Thanks to @ashponders.bsky.social and @seamas.bsky.social for making me realize I'm severely underutilizing my position as a journalist.

Reddit post of the Aye, I Could Do That meme. From Know Your Meme: "Aye, I Could Do That refers to a scene in Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King in which, approaching the final battle, Gimli says, "I never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an elf." Legolas replies, "What about side by side with a friend?" to which Gimli replies, "Aye, I could do that." The scene was turned into an Object Labeling exploitable to show two groups, usually opposed, fighting against a common enemy." This post is a Bears fan saying "never thought I'd upvote a Packers post." "What about upvoting a fuck ICE post" "Aye, I could do that."

Our government's atrocities are bringing together Bears fans and Packers fans.

Alex Pretti: Analysing Footage of Minneapolis CBP Shooting - bellingcat Bellingcat has analysed video of the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The footage appears to contradict statements made by the Department of Homeland Security.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, on January 24. DHS claims he died after an armed struggle, but videos of the incident appears to contradict that claim. Read our analysis here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...

Yes, that's all in the article 👍

Alex Pretti: Analysing Footage of Minneapolis CBP Shooting - bellingcat Bellingcat has analysed video of the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The footage appears to contradict statements made by the Department of Homeland Security.

Our analysis at @bellingcat.com on the killing of Alex Pretti breaks down the video evidence.

He never reached for his gun.
Agents sprayed/tackled him while his hands were up.
He was disarmed before he was shot.
The first shot came from an agent firing at him.

www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...

In an ideal world, the general public shouldn't have to watch execution videos in slow-mo, at multiple angles, and scour the Internet for more evidence.

We should be able to trust officials and journalists to do it, but we've had to become a society of war investigators.

Analysing One Federal Agent’s Use of Less-Lethal Launcher in Minneapolis After the fatal shooting of Renee Good, Border Patrol agent "EZ-17" was filmed shooting less-lethal munitions at protesters five times in five minutes.

Here’s another Bellingcat series on an agent using “less lethal” munitions.

It also matches the gun we saw in the video
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It's his gun
bsky.app/profile/elio...

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Video analysis below of the gun DHS says belong to Pretti being removed from the situation before the firs shot is heard.

The gun that DHS says belongs to Pretti appears to be already in the hands of DHS before the first shot is heard.