Federal Agents Identified in Minneapolis Shooting of Alex Pretti During “Operation Metro Surge”
Quality journalism is vital for an informed citizenry. The Self-reliant provides in-depth reporting, free from paywalls, on critical issues ranging from reproductive rights to climate change and the influence of Big Tech – and relies on reader support to continue this work.
The two federal immigration agents involved in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old alex pretti, an intensive care nurse, on January 24th in Minneapolis have been identified as longtime officers with Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Border patrol agent Jesus Ochoa,43,and CBP officer Raymundo Gutierrez,35,were named in government records reviewed by ProPublica and The Independent.
The identification of the agents comes amid growing calls for transparency and accountability following the shooting, which occurred during “Operation Metro Surge,” a multi-agency effort targeting gang violence and drug trafficking in the Minneapolis area. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been criticized for its initial reluctance to release the names of the officers involved.
A DHS spokesperson stated the department “will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers,” adding that “doxxing our officers put their lives and their families in serious danger.” The spokesperson further asserted that federal law enforcement officers are “on the frontlines arresting terrorists, gang members, murderers, pedophiles, and rapists” and are now facing threats from “violent agitators.” The spokesperson concluded by stating that the matter “remains under investigation.”
According to reports, Ochoa joined CBP in 2018, while Gutierrez has been with the agency as 2014, working in the Office of Field Operations. ProPublica noted that Gutierrez is assigned to a special response team, functioning similarly to a police SWAT unit. angelica ochoa,the ex-wife of Jesus Ochoa,told ProPublica that her former husband,a criminal justice graduate of the University of Texas-Pan American,had “dreamed” of working for the Border Patrol. She also revealed that, by the time of their 2021 separation, he had amassed a collection of approximately 25 rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
The lack of transparency surrounding the shooting drew criticism from Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. “They should not be anonymous,” Raskin said on CNN on Sunday. “They should be identifiable.And they have to have rules of engagement that don’t allow them to terrorize and intimidate, harass and assault U.S. citizens and other people.”
This incident is not isolated. The Trump management similarly withheld the name of the agent who fatally shot Renee Good, a mother of three, in Minneapolis on January 7th. It took media organizations to identify Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jonathan ross in the days following Good’s death. The killings of both Good and Pretti ignited widespread protests throughout minneapolis and across the nation.
In an attempt to de-escalate tensions, President trump removed border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, who initially characterized the two agents as the “victims” of the shooting. The president subsequently stated his desire for an “honest” investigation into Pretti’s death, a marked shift in tone from his previous response to Good’s killing.
Though, a preliminary review of the shooting, based on body camera footage and documents sent to Congress last week, did not mention that Pretti brandished a weapon before he was killed.This omission directly contradicts claims made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her department.
The review detailed that the incident began around 9 a.m. on January 24th, when a federal officer encountered two female protesters blowing whistles. When the protesters refused to move from the roadway, the officer pushed them away, prompting one of the women to seek assistance from Pretti, a U.S. citizen. After attempting to move the woman and Pretti,the officer deployed pepper spray.A struggle ensued, during which Pretti “resisted” the officer’s attempts to detain him.
according to the report,a Border Protection agent repeatedly yelled,”He’s got a gun!” before discharging a CBP-issued Glock 19,followed by a second agent discharging a CBP-issued Glock 47 at Pretti approximately five seconds later. Pretti was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead by 9:32 a.m.
Responding to public and legislative pressure, the Justice Department announced on Friday that its civil division, led by the FBI, has opened an investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti.
