Hispanic Federal Agents Identified in Fatal Shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis

In a tragic incident that has sparked widespread outrage, the two federal agents responsible for the shooting of protester Alex Pretti in Minneapolis have been identified through government records as Jesús Ochoa, a Border Patrol agent, and Raymundo Gutiérrez, an officer with Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Details from documents reviewed by ProPublica reveal that Ochoa and Gutiérrez were the shooters in the January 24th event that resulted in Pretti's death. This incident has triggered massive protests and demands for both state and federal criminal investigations.

Assigned to Operation Metro Surge, a mission initiated in December, Ochoa, 43, and Gutiérrez, 35, were among numerous armed and masked agents deployed in various areas around Minneapolis. Both hail from southern Texas.

Ochoa began his tenure with CBP in 2018, and his ex-wife has noted his enthusiasm for firearms, owning approximately 25 guns, including rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Gutiérrez, who joined in 2014, is part of a special response team that handles high-risk operations similar to SWAT units.

The CBP initially withheld their identities and provided minimal information about the shooting, which occurred only days after another federal agent fatally shot another protester in the city: Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three.

Pretti, at 37, worked as an intensive care unit nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. He succumbed to gunshot wounds inflicted at close range during a struggle with federal agents. This case has elicited an unusual political response, with lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties calling for a transparent investigation.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), overseeing the CBP, confirmed that the agents were suspended following the incident. The Justice Department later announced that its Civil Rights Division had launched a formal investigation into the matter.

A report referenced by CNN and CBS describes how, during the confrontation, an agent shouted, "He's got a gun!" followed by one agent firing a Glock 19 and another a Glock 47, within five seconds. It remains unclear if the shots were fired after Pretti was already on the ground.

According to the same report, an agent claimed to have Pretti's firearm post-shooting. However, witness videos depict the weapon being removed from Pretti's waist before the shots were fired, contradicting the federal government's initial claim that he approached the agents armed.

Days later, it was revealed that multiple federal agents' body cameras captured the shooting. The DHS confirmed that recordings from various angles are under review as a key part of the investigation, potentially playing a crucial role in determining legal responsibility.

In the aftermath of the scandal, Gregory Bovino, who had led intensive immigration raids in Democrat-led cities since early 2025, was relieved from his position as Border Patrol's chief commander and reassigned to a previous role in California.

Pretti's death occurs amid a federal immigration crackdown known for aggressive operations, masked agents, and a lack of transparency that hinders public accountability.

Critics argue that concealing identities undermines a fundamental mechanism for public oversight of force usage. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized the deployment of agents "without proper preparation," while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged for less misinformation and confrontation.

Meanwhile, Trump dispatched border czar Tom Homan to the city to lead ICE operations, a move that has further heightened tensions.

Pretti's death marked the second fatal shooting by a federal agent in Minneapolis within a month, both victims were U.S. citizens, intensifying the national debate over the reach, methods, and boundaries of immigration agencies' power.