The Killing of Alex Pretti
By: Michaeljon Murphy
Director of Communications
Constitution Party of Wisconsin
The rhetoric from the right following the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis is a bit unsettling. Talking about Pretti carrying a firearm in a protest as if that automatically makes him a “bad guy” is misguided. I have carried a firearm in many street demonstrations in opposition to abortion that would be considered by some to be protests. I also realized that I would need to conduct myself even more carefully than normal in those situations. There was frequently a law enforcement presence at these “protests.”
The First Incident
Alex Pretti U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Interestingly, 11 days before the shooting, Pretti was involved in a situation that had much more probable cause for him to be arrested. He was tackled by ICE agents following an incident where he spat at them and kicked off the tail light of one of their vehicles. He lost his coat in the scuffle, revealing that he had his concealed firearm, but was not arrested. I applaud those in the liberal camp for responsible gun ownership. It may lead them to value other constitutional rights and begin a journey out of the darkness of leftism. However, the two incidents show a pattern of the lack of self-control that is requisite for a gun owner.
A Much Different Outcome
Pretti interposing himself between an ICE agent and a woman who was being forcibly pushed was a different kind of altercation but also may not have been wise under the circumstances. Since the woman was out of traffic at the time and not actively impeding ICE’s work, the level of force in the shove appears excessive. However, Pretti placing his hand on the agent (however briefly) seems to cause the agent to move into an arrest situation. Pretti is maced, then turns away, and is facing away from the officer when he is taken down to the ground. We have no actual body-cam footage from the incident, but there are numerous bystander videos from multiple angles. We are therefore not privy to any of the verbal exchanges between the ICE agents and Mr. Pretti. If this were a typical police action, they would be quick and frequent in their exclamations to “stop resisting!” This is a two-edged sword in the protocol of law enforcement. It is a command to the arrestee\detainee to comply, but it can also be used as a cover and justification for any amount of physical force to be used by the officers. I am not sure if federal agents employ the same protocols, but it would not be surprising. In any case, there were liberal uses of force against Mr. Pretti during the incident. There appeared to be numerous attempts to force him flat on his belly, from trying to take his legs out from under him to the initial agent striking him in the face repeatedly with the can of mace.
Two Kinds of Resisting
There are two kinds of resisting in a situation like this. There is active resistance, where the suspect is showing aggression or acting with violence against law enforcement, and there is passive resistance, where someone may not be fully complying, tensing up or going limp. There is no evidence of active resistance in this case. Mr. Pretti’s forearms are in contact with the ground at all times before the first shot is heard. He has just been liberally coated in O.C. spray and has his head tucked into the crook of his arm, clearly in pain from the chemical agent. He may not even be consciously passively resisting but distracted by the pain he is in and the chaotic situation.
What Led to the Shooting?
Alex Pretti’s firearm United States Department of Homeland Security, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
During the scuffle, it appears that his jacket is pulled up, revealing his firearm. One of the agents immediately secures the firearm and removes it from him. At this same time, the officer who ends up being the initial shooter draws his firearm. It is impossible from the video evidence alone to see what caused the agent to feel the need to draw his weapon. At no time does Mr. Peretti reach for his own weapon, and it is removed from him before the first shot is heard. There are reports that the agent who removed Mr. Pretti’s firearm may have negligently discharged a round from the gun which led to the shooting, but this has not been confirmed. Mr. Pretti’s body is not in a threatening position as the shooting began. As the shooting continues, Mr. Pretti rises to his knees as the agents who had been holding him down scatter, but he has his back to the shooting agent at that point. The shots continue until Mr. Pretti is flat on the ground and void of life. A second agent joins in the shooting, but it is not clear how many shots he fires.
A Thorough Investigation Needed
Karoline Leavitt
YouTube channel called White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
There are many factors which video alone fails to show in situations like this, but from what we can see, the ICE agent who decided to use deadly force will have a difficult time justifying his actions. There is nothing in the video evidence showing the necessary jeopardy to federal law enforcement. I hope there will be a full investigation and accountability from those involved (something President Trump later expected to happen), but knowing this will likely be an internal federal government process, it is not reassuring that the administration immediately afterward characterized Mr. Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” or a “would-be assassin.”
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