Officers in Minneapolis to wear cameras
Medical examiner rules Pretti's death a homicide
By: Bart Jansen
and Michael Loria
USA Today
WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said mitigation officers in Minneapolis will begin wearing body cameras mediately, following the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens amid the Trump administration's deportation crackdown.
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The death of one of two U.S. citizens, 37-year-old intense care unit nurse Alex Pretti, was ruled a homicide in a medical examiner's report released February 2. [2026]
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In a post on X, Noem said the decision for body cameras came after speaking to the Trump administration's border czar Tom Homan as well as other top mitigation officials.
..... "Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis," Noem wrote in the post. "As funding is available, the body camera program will be expanded nationwide. we will rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country.
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President Donald Trump told reporters he would leave the mover to Noem, adding that the cameras could help Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
..... "They generally tend to be good for law enforcement because people can't lie about what's happening," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "So generally speaking i think 80% good of law enforcement."
..... Body-worn cameras became one of the main points of contention between Republicans and Democrats. Congress is currently debating a two-week extension of DHS funding to allow time for negotiations over steps such as implementing body-worn cameras. Lawmakers are also deliberating whether federal officers can wear masks while making arrests and whether they need warrants issued by judges to arrest suspects.
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Noem's announcement came after a firestorm of criticism and nationwide protests over the shooting deaths of Pretti and Renee Good in separate incidents in Minneapolis.
..... Good was shot in the chest and head in her car by an ICE officer, Federal officers accused her of trying to run them over. Analysis of the footage by USA Today showed Good's vehicle appeared to be turning away form the officer at the time of the shooting. He fired three shots, one at the front windshield and two more through the open driver;s side window as Good moved past. All shots appeared to be fired after the agent was out of the way.
..... Pretti, who was pinned on the street by federal agents, , was shot multiple times. Footage form the incident shows that he never brandished a gun he was carrying, which he was licensed to have.
..... Trump made Homan the point person for immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota after then-Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino left the state amid tensions between federal agents and protesters.
Both deaths deemed homicides
..... The medial examiner for Hennepin County determined that Pretti's killing on January 24 [2026] was a "homicide" caused by "multiple gunshot wounds." According to the report, Pretti's fatal wounds occurred when he was "shot by law enforcement officer(s)."
..... A Hennepin County Medical examiner's report also lists Good's manner of death as a homicide resulting from "multiple gunshot wounds." The report notes the "deceased was shot by a law enforcement officer,"
..... A coroner's ruling of "homicide" indicates that someone's death was caused by another person. It does not necessary mean murder. A homicide ruling typically triggers an investigation into the death that will aim to determine whether the killing was justified or not.
..... Depart4emnt of Justice Assistant Attorney General Todd Blanche announced January 30 [2026] that the agency had opened a civil rights investigation into Preitt's killing. A spokesperson for Homeland Security told USA Today that the incident is being investigated by the FBI with support from Homeland Security Investigations. customs and Border Protection is conducting its own investigation.
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Homeland Security officials have not identified the officers involved in Pretti's death, but in a report obtains by USA Today, the agency said two agents fired guns during the fatal encounter. They were placed on leave, CBP said.
..... Investigative news outlet ProPublica identified the pair as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and customs and Border Precondition officer Raymundo Gutierrez. USA Today has reached out to Pretti's family for comment.
..... Pretti and good lived about a mile and a half from each other in adjacent neighborhoods south of downtown Minneapolis.