The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, by federal agents in Minneapolis has ignited a diplomatic and human rights firestorm. As the Trump administration doubles down on claims that Pretti was an "assassin," video evidence and family testimonies are painting a chillingly different picture of an extrajudicial killing.

The incident occurred on Saturday morning (EAT evening) when Pretti, described by colleagues as a dedicated ICU nurse, was confronted by agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Within seconds, he lay dead on the asphalt. While official reports claim he was a "gunman" threatening officers, viral footage appears to show him holding nothing but a mobile phone, his empty hand raised in a universal sign of surrender.

"Sickening Lies"

"They killed a healer and called him a killer," Pretti’s father said in a heart-wrenching press conference. The family has forcefully rejected the "gunman" narrative, accusing the administration of fabricating evidence to justify the use of lethal force. "Alex was recording an arrest. He was exercising his constitutional right. For that, he was executed."

The Trump administration’s response has been combative. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem insisted that Pretti was armed with a 9mm handgun and "intent on massacre." President Trump took to Truth Social to post an image of a firearm allegedly recovered at the scene, captioning it "The Gunman’s Gun." However, independent verification of the scene has yet to link the weapon to Pretti, and witnesses maintain the agents planted the narrative, if not the gun itself.

• The Video Evidence: Frame-by-frame analysis of bystander video shows Pretti holding a black rectangular object consistent with a smartphone. At no point is a weapon visible in his hands before shots are fired.
• The Political Fallout: Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, have threatened to block DHS funding, calling the killing "appalling." The incident has become a flashpoint for the broader debate on police immunity and federal overreach.
• Global Reaction: Human rights organizations have called for an independent UN-led investigation, citing a lack of trust in US internal mechanisms. Protests have erupted in major cities from London to Nairobi.

A Nation on Edge

This shooting is the second such killing by federal agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks, deepening the rift between local communities and federal law enforcement. The deployment of federal agents to "Democrat-run cities" was a key campaign promise of the Trump re-election, but critics argue it has turned American streets into war zones.

For Kenyans watching from afar, the images of police brutality strike a familiar, painful chord. The narrative of "planting weapons" and "post-facto justification" is a script well-known in Nairobi’s human rights circles. As the Pretti family prepares to bury their son, the question remains: Can justice be served when the accused is the state itself?

The Minnesota federal judge’s order to preserve all evidence is a small victory, but the battle for the truth has only just begun. In the age of misinformation, the video of Alex Pretti’s final moments may be the only witness that cannot be silenced.