‘Pink Coat Lady’ Breaks Silence After Filming Alex Pretti Shooting — What We Know
By ChatGPT News / compiled from multiple verified sources
Dates covered: January 24 – early February 2026
On the morning of January 24, 2026, Minneapolis became the epicenter of a national firestorm when Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by federal immigration enforcement agents on a busy avenue in the city’s Whittier neighborhood. The incident — part of a sweeping federal immigration enforcement operation — has since sparked protests, official investigations, civil rights claims, political pressure, and intense media debate over law enforcement use of force, transparency, and accountability.
A central figure emerging from the chaotic and contested footage of the shooting is a woman widely referred to as the “pink coat lady” — a bystander whose cellphone video provided one of the clearest angles of the encounter. Days after the tragedy, she sat down for an interview and shared her perspective on what happened, contradicting federal accounts and becoming, in many quarters, a symbol of eyewitness resistance to official narratives.
📍 The Incident: What Happened on Nicollet Avenue?
Federal Enforcement Operation Turns Deadly
According to federal officials, agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components were conducting immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis as part of “Operation Metro Surge,” a broader crackdown announced by the U.S. administration. During the early morning, agents confronted civilians who were observing, documenting, or protesting the federal activity.
Federal reports claim that in the events leading up to the shooting, officers encountered resistance and that Pretti allegedly presented a firearm. CBP’s preliminary report to Congress stated that agents said Pretti resisted arrest and that one agent yelled “He’s got a gun!” moments before multiple shots were fired.
Contradictory Eyewitness Footage
Multiple bystander videos — and particularly the footage captured by the pink coat witness — tell a different story. In her video, Pretti is seen:
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Holding only his cellphone before federal agents intervene, without brandishing a weapon.
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Being tackled to the ground after attempting to help a nearby woman who had just been shoved by an agent.
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Having his legally carried firearm removed by an agent before the fatal shots were fired, according to that footage’s interpretation.
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Lying unarmed on the ground when at least two agents then fired multiple shots, according to witness descriptions.
News outlets and analysts have noted that the pink coat footage provides a crucial angle that contradicts the federal narrative, as it appears to show Pretti not actively engaging with officers, not brandishing his weapon, and in fact unarmed at the moment the fatal shots were fired.
📹 Who is the ‘Pink Coat Lady’?
The woman at the center of this controversy is Stella Carlson (as identified in some reports), a Minneapolis resident whose video quickly circulated across social media and news outlets after the shooting. Before the incident, she had been on her way to a local engagement — children’s face painting for a community event — when she encountered the unfolding scene and began filming.
In her first televised interview since the incident (with CNN’s Anderson Cooper), she described what she saw and what compelled her to record it:
“I was terrified, but I was more worried about this not being documented. … I knew I had to film because the evidence mattered.”
Carlson said she came upon the scene when federal agents were already engaging with bystanders, some of whom had been pushed or pepper‑sprayed. She described Pretti as attempting to help another person who had just been shoved down. Carlson has stated she did not see him with a gun at any point before he was tackled and shot.
Video Clarifies, But Does Not End Debate
Key Elements in the “Pink Coat” Footage
The series of videos shared widely — including the one from the pink coat perspective — have been dissected frame by frame by journalists, analysts, lawyers, and social media users. Across multiple vantage points, the videos appear to show that:
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Pretti’s hands were visible and not threatening when he advanced to help a bystander who had been shoved.
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Agents sprayed chemical irritant into the faces of Pretti and the woman he was helping.
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After being taken to the ground, Pretti appears disarmed or in the process of being disarmed before the shots that killed him.
Experts in use‑of‑force and civil liberties have noted that these videos raise serious questions about how and why force was applied in this situation, particularly if no imminent threat was posed.
Federal Narrative vs. Public Footage
The federal report alleged that Pretti was resisting and had a firearm, the presence of which CBP claims justified the shooting. However, critics — including legal experts and close readings of the video — note that the videos do not show Pretti brandishing a weapon or initiating an attack.
DHS has reportedly said that multiple video angles exist, including body‑worn camera footage, but has offered limited public disclosure. This lack of transparency has fueled public distrust and intensified calls for independent investigations.
📣 What the ‘Pink Coat Lady’ Has Said Publicly
In her interview and subsequent public statements, Carlson conveyed several themes:
1. Fear and Responsibility
Carlson acknowledged being scared during the incident but said she felt compelled to document it because of a broader pattern of force she sees being used in her community.
She said:
“It could be any of us.”
This refrain — that ordinary citizens now face heightened risk from federal operations — has resonated with critics of federal enforcement tactics.
2. Contradicting Government Claims
Carlson directly challenged specific claims made by DHS and government officials about Pretti’s conduct. She said she did not see a firearm in his hand.
She also described how agents moved Pretti’s body in a way she found disrespectful, saying it felt as if they were counting bullet wounds rather than rendering aid.
3. Community Surveillance and Witnessing
Carlson described her presence as part of a kind of “community surveillance” — people who felt it was their civic duty to record and document federal actions in public spaces.
She positioned her actions not as activism but as a form of accountability.
Political and Public Responses
The shooting and subsequent release of videos have ignited a broad spectrum of reactions:
Public Outrage and Protests
Candlelight vigils, demonstrations, and public outcry erupted in Minneapolis and beyond, as residents and activists demanded answers and accountability.
Celebrities and Public Figures Speak Out
High‑profile entertainers, including Olivia Rodrigo and Pedro Pascal, condemned the shooting and criticized immigration enforcement tactics.
Political Pressure and Investigations
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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a federal civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death — a measure not taken in all law enforcement shootings, indicating the seriousness with which some officials are treating the incident.
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A temporary restraining order was issued to prevent federal agencies from altering or destroying evidence in the case.
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Governors, legislators, and civil rights organizations have publicly criticized the operation and called for more transparency.
Government and DHS Stance
Federal authorities, including DHS and CBP leadership, have largely reiterated that they are conducting internal reviews and that they believe the use of force was justified — though these narratives have been questioned in public forums due to the video evidence.
Why This Footage Matters
The “pink coat” video is not just another bystander recording — it has become central to public understanding of the shooting for several reasons:
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Clarity of Action: It provides one of the clearest perspectives on whether Pretti posed a threat.
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Contradictions with Official Accounts: It underscores discrepancies between official statements and visual evidence.
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Public Trust and Law Enforcement: It has fueled broader debates about governmental transparency, civilian oversight, and federal accountability.
Closing Thoughts: A Nation Divided
In the weeks since Pretti’s death, Minneapolis — and the nation — remain deeply divided:
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For many residents and activists, the shooting underscores a pattern of law enforcement brutality and a lack of accountability.
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For federal law enforcement and policymakers, it presents a challenging incident that they maintain must be considered within the context of officer safety and operational complexity.
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For the “pink coat lady” and witnesses like her, the encounter has become a defining moment in a broader struggle over who gets to control the narrative of public safety and justice.
As investigations continue and additional footage and testimonies are reviewed, the perspectives captured on that cold January morning — including the voice and video of a woman in a pink coat determined to record what she saw — will remain central to how historians, courts, journalists, and the public interpret this tragic event.
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