Border Patrol Official Gregory Bovino Defends Fatal Shooting of ICU Nurse Alex Pretti, Says ‘The Victims Are the Agents’ [VIDEO]

A U.S. Border Patrol official defended the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, in Minneapolis, claiming the victim “put himself in that situation” while avoiding clear answers about whether Pretti ever threatened federal officers.

Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol’s commander-at-large, spoke about the incident during an interview with Dana Bash on CNN’s State of the Union. “The victims are the Border Patrol agents — I’m not blaming the Border Patrol agents,” Bovino said. “The suspect put himself in that situation.”

Bovino emphasized that Pretti had allegedly inserted himself into a law enforcement operation targeting a “violent illegal alien” and that officers had attempted “de-escalation techniques” during the confrontation.

“The suspect decided to inject himself into a law enforcement action,” Bovino said. “Border Patrol agents and law enforcement are conducting a targeted law enforcement effort, and that suspect injected himself into that situation with a weapon.”

Alex Pretti was clearly visible holding a phone when agents first approached him, before pulling him to the ground and shooting him.

When Bash cited footage suggesting that Pretti’s gun was already taken before he was shot, Bovino insisted he remained a threat. “He was in the scene actively impeding and assaulting law enforcement,” Bovino said. “He was there for a reason, and that reason was to impede law enforcement.”

Bovino described the environment as chaotic and dangerous. “What our officers are faced with in Minneapolis are chaotic, very difficult, and violent situations in which individuals — and this suspect is not the only one to bring a loaded weapon to a riot — the situations are chaotic and ever-changing. Follow directions of law enforcement; don’t inject yourself knowingly beforehand into a law enforcement situation.”

On the day of the incident, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement that an individual approached Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and “violently resisted” efforts to disarm him. An agent then reportedly fired defensive shots.

However, video verified by The New York Times shows Pretti standing among protesters holding only a phone as agents approached and used pepper spray. Footage suggests an agent had unholstered Pretti’s gun before he was shot multiple times in rapid succession, sustaining at least 10 gunshot wounds within five seconds.

Bash noted that Pretti did not appear to brandish a weapon in the verified footage, while Bovino emphasized that an ongoing investigation would clarify the circumstances. “We do know that the suspect did bring a weapon, a loaded 9-millimeter high-capacity handgun, to a riot,” Bovino said. “As far as what happened in that intervening moment, that will come to light through the investigation.”

The incident has sparked national debate over law enforcement use of force, the conduct of federal officers, and the events leading up to Pretti’s death.