Federal agents who opened fire on Alex Pretti named as DOJ opens investigation

The names of the two Border Patrol agents who opened fire on Alex Pretti on the streets of Minneapolis have been released.

Border Patrol Agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection Officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, are the two men who together fired a total of ten shots at Pretti on January 24. ProPublica reported.

The men were both assigned to Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge, the administration’s attempt to crack down on illegal immigrants in the city.

The men’s employers at CBP have so far refused to confirm the identities of the agents who opened fire on Pretti.

A spokesperson for DHS told The Daily Mail that they would ‘never confirm or deny attempts to malign our law enforcement officials’.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection for comment.

Ochoa, who goes by Jesse, joined CBP in 2018, while Gutierrez has been with the Border Patrol since 2014. Both are from South Texas.

Pretti, 37, suffered fatal gunshot wounds from ten shots fired by Border Patrol agents Ochoa and Gutierrez during a fight that broke out after an ICE nurse was filming deportation operations.

Pretti, 37, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents after filming deportation operations.

‘The doxxing of our officers puts their lives and the lives of their families in serious danger. Our law enforcement officers are on the front lines arresting terrorists, gang members, murderers, pedophiles and rapists, the DHS spokesperson said.

‘Now, thanks to the malicious rhetoric of sanctuary politicians, they are under constant threat from violent agitators. They are facing a 1,300% increase in attacks against them, a 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks and an 8,000% increase in death threats. Revealing their identities puts their lives and the lives of their families at serious risk. This issue is still being investigated. ‘

Gutierrez serves in CBP’s Office of Field Operations and is part of a team working on high-risk operations.

Ochoa’s ex-wife, Angelica, told ProPublica that he dreamed of working for the Border Patrol before finding the job.

He also claimed to have become a gun enthusiast, owning about 25 rifles, pistols and shotguns by the time they divorced in 2021.

The Ministry of Justice announced on Friday that they had launched an investigation into the attack.

A CBP spokesman had previously said the two agents who opened fire had been placed on leave.

The agents reportedly received mental health support as standard procedure and were placed on automatic administrative leave for at least three days.

Sources say that when managers return, they will not be allowed on the field and will be given desk duties.

The suspension comes after a new government report refuted claims that Pretti ‘brandished’ the gun.

The new report claimed there was no evidence that Pretti removed the gun from his hip when an officer shouted ‘gun’ during his arrest.

Footage of the shooting circulating on social media showed a Border Patrol agent disarming Pretti moments before the shooting, before he was shot several times in the back.

The shooting occurred around 9 a.m. Saturday as agents confronted protesters, according to the new report, which was shared as a requirement for congressional committees to review deaths in CBP custody within 72 hours.

Border Patrol Agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection Officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, are the two men who together fired a total of ten shots at Pretti on January 24.

Two Border Patrol agents who shot and killed protester Alex Pretti in Minneapolis were placed on administrative leave

Agents said they were confronted by protesters “yelling and whistling” at them while also blocking the roadway at the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue.

CBP claimed that after protesters made ‘several verbal demands’ for them to stop, the two women confronted the agents, blowing their whistles. They were ordered to move off the road but refused.

They said the women were then ‘pushed’ and one of them ran at Pretti, both of whom again refused to move out of the way.

The officer then pepper-sprayed both of them while trying to arrest Pretti.

‘CBP personnel attempted to detain Pretti. The report alleges that Pretti resisted the efforts of CBP personnel, resulting in a struggle.

‘During the struggle a (Border Patrol agent) shouted, ‘He’s got a gun!’ he shouted. multiple times.”

The report continues: ‘Approximately five seconds later, a (Border Patrol agent) fired his CBP-issued Glock 19 and a (Customs and Border Protection officer) fired his CBP-issued Glock 47 at Pretti.’

Within five seconds, an agent and a police officer opened fire, one using a Glock 19 and the other a Glock 47.

An agent seized Pretti’s gun and cleared and secured it shortly after the shooting.

Pretti was seen confronting federal agents before the shooting. While his family claimed he was ‘not openly holding a gun’, federal authorities claimed he was ‘brandishing’ a firearm

CBP attempted to save Pretti’s life by placing chest seals over his wounds at 9:02 a.m., and emergency services and EMTs arrived three minutes later.

At 9:14 a.m., Pretti was taken by ambulance to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:32 a.m.

The new Justice Department investigation pits Attorney General Pam Bondi’s lawyers against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, who defended her agents by calling Pretti a terrorist, while Justice Department investigators examine whether her civil rights were violated.

The announcement marks a complete reversal of the Trump administration’s approach to the case; officials had initially indicated that this approach would be limited to a narrow DHS review focused on agents’ use of force.

‘Unfortunately, there are thousands of law enforcement incidents every year where someone is shot,’ Blanche said.

Trump appeared to rein in Pretti after an icy White House meeting this week, following scrutiny over Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s comments about Pretti, including claims that he was an “assassin.”

Internal scrutiny of Noem intensified after the fatal shooting of the 37-year-old intensive care nurse and Noem fell out with Trump.

According to reports, the President grilled Noem about her handling and initial reaction to the attack during their late-night meeting. Corey Lewandowski, Noem’s adviser and rumored lover, was by her side at the Oval Office summit.

By the end of the night, Noem was ordered to shift her focus away from domestic immigration enforcement operations and focus instead on securing the Southern Border.

White House Border Czar Tom Homan, Noem’s longtime rival, was ordered by Trump to take over the crackdown in Minnesota.

Despite the outrage, Noem is expected to keep her job; Even though a new poll by Daily Mail/JL Partners found his approval rating had fallen to just 33 per cent.

This is an evolving story.