Report identifies federal immigration agents involved in Minneapolis shooting that sparked protests

ISTANBUL

The US-based investigative news outlet ProPublica reported Sunday that it identified two federal immigration agents who fired shots during an encounter last month in Minneapolis, Minnesota that left protester Alex Pretti dead.

According to government records reviewed by ProPublica, the agents are Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35.

The Jan. 24 shooting triggered days of protests in Minneapolis and renewed scrutiny of aggressive immigration enforcement operations under the administration of President Donald Trump.

Both agents were deployed as part of “Operation Metro Surge,” a sweeping immigration enforcement operation launched in December that sent armed, masked agents into several US cities. CBP, which employs both men, has declined to officially confirm their identities and has released limited details about the incident.

Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis, was shot during a confrontation that began when federal agents attempted to clear protesters from a roadway, according to a notice later sent by CBP to members of Congress.

The notice said Pretti resisted arrest and that an agent shouted “He’s got a gun!” before two officers discharged their weapons. Videos shared online show chaotic scenes as agents restrained Pretti amid shouts from bystanders.

Authorities have confirmed that Pretti was carrying a legally owned handgun at the time. Some video analyses cited by ProPublica suggest the weapon may have been removed before shots were fired, though this has not been officially verified.

The US Justice Department said Friday that its Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into the killing. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said the agents involved were placed on administrative leave but declined to answer further questions. State and local officials in Minnesota have complained that they have not been given access to key evidence, including body-camera footage.

The case has drawn bipartisan concern in Congress. Republican Sen. John Curtis called for a “transparent, independent investigation,” while Democratic lawmakers accused federal authorities of withholding information from state investigators.

The shooting came after another Minneapolis protester, Renee Good, was killed in a separate incident on Jan. 7 involving an immigration agent, further intensifying criticism of operations by masked federal agents and secrecy surrounding officers’ identities.

ProPublica said it published the agents’ names in the public interest, arguing that accountability in fatal use-of-force cases requires transparency.