The incident occurred on January 24, 2026, during a protest in Minneapolis, resulting in the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse. Records reviewed by investigative organization ProPublica revealed that Ochoa, aged 43, and Gutierrez, aged 35, were the agents involved in the incident that sparked nationwide protests and calls for a thorough investigation.
Both agents were part of Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement initiative that had deployed numerous armed agents throughout Minneapolis. Following the shooting, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has limited the information released, including the names of the agents involved, until now.
The shooting followed a chaotic encounter where Pretti was reportedly engaged in a physical struggle with the agents. Amidst the confrontation, agents employed pepper spray, leading to a chaotic scene that has been criticized for its escalatory nature. Witnesses and local officials have raised concerns about the decision-making process of the agents involved. Notably, similar sentiments emerged after a different shooting incident involving a federal agent and another Minneapolis protester, Renee Good, earlier in the same month.
Pretti's death has ignited significant public outcry, inciting protests across various cities and drawing sharp critiques from political leaders calling for accountability. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has promised an independent state investigation into the incident.
The details of the incident and ensuing fallout highlight the growing tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement practices and their impact on local communities, drawing more rigorous scrutiny into the conduct of federal agents.
Published by Banx Network. This article is part of the Banx decentralized media programme, powered by the BXE token on the XRP Ledger.
