In a move that has poured gasoline on an already raging national fire, U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino has stepped forward to offer a full-throated defense of the agents who fatally shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti. Despite mounting video evidence and a city on the brink of revolt, Bovino’s assessment of the January 24 encounter was blunt: the federal agents, he claims, did “a good job.”
The killing of Pretti, a U.S. citizen and dedicated caregiver at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, marks the second fatal federal encounter in the city this month. Following the death of Renee Nicole Good, the Pretti case has become a focal point for massive protests stretching from the Twin Cities to Washington D.C., as the public grapples with the sight of a healthcare worker being shot in the street.
Bovino: “The Suspect Put Himself in That Situation”
Appearing in a high-stakes interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Bovino remained unapologetic. In a rhetorical pivot that stunned many observers, Bovino characterized the heavily armed federal agents as the true casualties of the encounter.
“The suspect put himself in that situation,” Bovino told Bash. “The victims are the Border Patrol agents there.”
He went on to praise the tactical execution of the unit involved, crediting their “fantastic training” for preventing harm to law enforcement. “So good job for our law enforcement in taking him down before he was able to do that,” he added.
The Disarmament Dispute
The interview grew increasingly tense as Bash pressed Bovino on the central contradiction of the case: bystander video that appears to show Pretti being disarmed by one agent seconds before another agent fires the lethal rounds.
When asked specifically about the footage suggesting Pretti was no longer a threat when he was killed, Bovino dismissed the visual evidence as “freeze-frame adjudication.”
“Dana, you don’t know that he was unarmed. I don’t know that he was unarmed,” Bovino retorted. “We don’t know that agent was taking his gun away. The facts are going to come to light. That is why we investigate.”
Bash was quick to point out the logical inconsistency in his stance, noting that while Bovino called for a patient investigation, he had already concluded the agents acted heroically. “With respect,” Bash countered, “you say that’s why we investigate, but you’re also drawing other conclusions that sort of fly in the face of waiting for an investigation.”
A Family Rejects the “Violent” Narrative
While the commander defends the “takedown,” Alex Pretti’s family continues to fight for the reputation of a man they say was defined by empathy, not aggression. His father, Michael Pretti, has been steadfast in his rejection of the government’s characterization of his son.
“He cared about people deeply,” Michael said, describing Alex as being profoundly “upset” by federal tactics—specifically the “kidnapping of children” and the “grabbing of people off the street”—that have become synonymous with recent ICE operations. According to eyewitness accounts, Alex’s final actions involved attempting to help a woman who had been shoved into the snow by federal agents.
The “Border Czar” and Political Fallout
The political shockwaves have reached the highest levels of government. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump struck a slightly more cautious but still critical tone.
“We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything… I don’t like any shooting,” Trump stated. However, he quickly pivoted to criticize Pretti’s decision to carry a weapon. “I don’t like it when somebody goes into a protest and he’s got a very powerful, fully loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also. That doesn’t play good either.”
In a move to seize control of the narrative, Trump announced he is dispatching White House “border czar” Tom Homan to Minnesota. Writing on Truth Social, the President described Homan as “tough but fair,” noting he will report directly to the Oval Office.
In the same breath, the President expanded the scope of the controversy, claiming that Congress and the Justice Department are “looking” at Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, a frequent critic of the administration who has been vocal during the state’s current unrest.
As Tom Homan prepares to land in a city divided by yellow police tape and protest barricades, the investigation into the death of Alex Pretti remains the eye of a national storm—one where the “good job” described by commanders is viewed by many others as a grave injustice.
