10 shots were fired at Alex Pretti in the tragic incident, based on forensic audio analysis of bystander videos.

Incident Overview

On January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old VA intensive care nurse, was fatally shot by federal agents near the U.S. border. The shooting unfolded in seconds during a confrontation involving Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. Pretti was declared dead at the scene, with reports noting multiple wounds including at least three in his back.

Shot Breakdown

A detailed timeline from ABC News, backed by audio forensics expert Robert Maher from Montana State University, reveals the rapid sequence:

  • 9:01:15 a.m. : First shot fired.
  • 9:01:16 a.m. : Three more shots (total: 4), Pretti falls limp.
  • 9:01:19 a.m. : Six additional shots (total: 10), all within under 5 seconds.
  • Agents then stepped back as an officer recovered a gun from the scene about 74 seconds later.

This analysis counters initial claims, with experts like former DHS official John Cohen noting Pretti did not appear threatening in videos.

Conflicting Accounts

  • Official side : Trump administration officials described it as self-defense, alleging Pretti approached with a gun.
  • Family & critics: Pretti's parents called it "sickening lies," highlighting wounds suggesting he was shot from behind; social media debates question the agents' decisions.
  • One LinkedIn post claimed "nine times," but forensic data consistently says 10.

Viewpoint| Key Claim| Source
---|---|---
Forensic Analysis| 10 shots in <5 seconds| ABC News 13
Government| Self-defense shooting| BBC 5
Family/Forums| Excessive force, back wounds| Reddit, LinkedIn 28

Ongoing Fallout

Investigations by DHS and others are underway as of January 26, 2026, amid public outrage on platforms like Reddit's r/politics. Video analyses criticize "flawed and fatal decisions." Discussions tie it to broader tensions under President Trump's 2025 reelection policies.

"What the videos depict is that this guy did not walk up to anybody from CBP in a threatening manner." – John Cohen, ex-DHS official

TL;DR : Forensic evidence confirms 10 shots fired at Pretti in under 5 seconds on Jan 24, 2026; case sparks debate on force and accountability.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.