Senator Amy Klobuchar’s characterization of a fatally shot armed citizen as merely “a guy with a cellphone” reveals a deeply troubling disconnect between political narrative and verified facts, raising urgent questions about Democrat priorities in defending federal law enforcement accountability.
Klobuchar’s Misleading Portrayal Ignores Constitutional Rights
Senator Amy Klobuchar addressed reporters on January 24, 2026, following the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. She characterized Pretti as simply “a guy with a cellphone” while demanding removal of ICE agents from Minnesota and attacking the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. This framing conveniently omitted that Pretti possessed a legally permitted concealed firearm, confirmed by Minnesota officials. Video footage verified by Reuters, The New York Times, and The Guardian shows Pretti filming with his cellphone moments before agents tackled him. His holstered weapon was never drawn or brandished, remaining secured until an agent removed it seconds before shots were fired.
Video Evidence Contradicts Federal Claims of Threat
The Department of Homeland Security claimed Pretti approached agents with a handgun, intending to “massacre law enforcement.” However, bystander videos paint a starkly different picture. At 9:05 a.m. on January 24 at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, Pretti was filming alongside legal observers when an agent pushed a protester. He moved to assist a woman shoved to the ground, standing between her and agents before being pepper-sprayed. Pretti embraced the fallen woman as six agents surrounded and wrestled him down. One agent struck him while another removed the gun from his waistband holster. Approximately eight seconds after pinning Pretti, agents yelled “gun,” then fired ten shots over five seconds while he remained pinned and collapsing.
Lawful Gun Owner Exercising Constitutional Rights
Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs, held a valid Minnesota concealed carry permit. His decision to exercise his Second Amendment right while documenting federal activities represents precisely the kind of responsible gun ownership conservatives defend. The firearm remained holstered throughout his intervention to protect protesters from what witnesses described as aggressive federal tactics. For Klobuchar to dismiss this context while pushing to expel federal immigration enforcement from her state demonstrates a calculated political maneuver. She weaponizes tragedy to advance sanctuary city policies while ignoring that lawful carry should never justify lethal force absent an actual threat, a principle fundamental to self-defense law and constitutional protections.
Pattern of Federal Overreach in Sanctuary Cities
This incident occurred amid deployment of approximately 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents to Minnesota, outnumbering Minneapolis and St. Paul sworn officers three to one. The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown targeted sanctuary cities like Minneapolis, sparking protests for months prior. Just seventeen days earlier, on January 7, 2026, federal officers fatally shot Renée Good in a separate incident, marking the second death and third shooting involving these operations. Reports document errors including detaining wrong individuals, such as an elderly man pulled from his home in underwear before being released when agents discovered their actual target was already jailed. These failures fuel legitimate concerns about operational protocols and accountability, concerns that transcend partisan politics.
NEW>> Gun Gaslight: Dem Amy Klobuchar Says Alex Pretti Was Just a ‘Guy With a Cellphone’ Despite Being Armedhttps://t.co/HQ4BPyNfW1 pic.twitter.com/t99URJvKrX
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 26, 2026
Bipartisan senators including Democrat Tina Smith and Republican Thom Tillis called for investigations by January 25, with Tillis warning the White House against interference. Vigils honored Pretti as no agent charges materialized despite mounting video evidence. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension faces pressure to conduct transparent review, though jurisdictional tensions between federal and state authorities complicate accountability. Klobuchar’s selective narrative serves her political agenda but undermines trust in both law enforcement legitimacy and honest assessment of constitutional rights. Patriots understand that lawful carry must be protected while demanding all officers, federal or local, face scrutiny when deadly force contradicts observable facts.
Sources:
Killing of Alex Pretti – Wikipedia
5 things to know about the latest Minneapolis shooting – WUFT