Border Patrol Agents Identified in Minneapolis Shooting of Alex Pretti

Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis intensive care unit nurse, was shot ten times in the back on January 24th by two Border Patrol agents. The agents have been identified as Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, after authorities initially declined to release their names.

Both agents were deployed to Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge, an initiative ordered by Donald Trump to bring agents from the southern Texas border to other areas of the country. Ochoa has been with the agency since 2018, while Gutierrez joined in 2014 and is part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Field Operations Office.

According to his ex-wife, Angélica Ochoa, Jesus Ochoa always dreamed of working for the Border Patrol and had become “an avid gun enthusiast” prior to the shooting. Both agents are currently suspended from their duties.

The shooting of Pretti was the second instance of a U.S. citizen killed by federal immigration enforcement under the current administration. On January 7th, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed Renée Good, a poet who was participating in protests against the deployment of three thousand federal agents in Minneapolis.

Reports indicate Pretti intervened between agents and a woman they were seeking. The woman was legally carrying a firearm but did not brandish it, instead holding a mobile phone to record the encounter. After disarming Pretti, the agents opened fire.

Calls for Transparency

Members of Congress, from both parties, have called for transparency in the investigation. This demand came after Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, Greg Bovino, Chief of the Border Patrol, and President Trump initially blamed Pretti for his own death. A preliminary report revealed that two agents fired their weapons, contrary to initial reports of only one.

The Department of Justice has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting, independent of the Department of Homeland Security’s internal review. The decision to publish the agents’ names was defended by the reporting organization, which cited a need for public scrutiny in cases involving the use of lethal force.

The identity of the agent who killed Renée Good is known to be Jonathan Ross. The government maintains Ross fired because Good attempted to hit him with her car, despite video evidence suggesting she was trying to drive away. Her final words to the agent who shot her three times at point-blank range were, “I’m not angry at you.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Operation Metro Surge?

Operation Metro Surge was an initiative ordered by Donald Trump to deploy agents from the southern Texas border to other cities, including Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Were the agents immediately identified after the shooting?

No, authorities initially refused to release the names of the agents involved. Their identities were later revealed by an investigative non-profit organization.

What is the status of the investigation?

The Department of Justice has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting, separate from an internal review by the Department of Homeland Security.

How might the public’s understanding of this case evolve as more information becomes available?