CNN's Sara Sidner called out the Trump administration for lying about the fatal shooting of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.
A Customs and Border Patrol officer shot and killed the 37-year-old Pretti after he came to the aid of two female legal observers during an immigration operation, and the "CNN News Central" host reported live from the city about the administration's claims about the fatal shooting.
"Demonstrators havebeen out in the streets insubzero temperatures, demandingagain and again that ICE leavethis city," Sidner said. "Now the Trumpadministration has tripled downon its efforts to put theresponsibility on the victim,Alex Pretti, as opposed to itsfederal agents who shot him.
"Butthey have been caught in lies.When you listen to what they sayand juxtapose it with the video,see for yourself."
At least four different videos of the fatal encounter recorded by eyewitnesses contradict administration claims.
"A warning: What you are aboutto see is what Nelson Barajassaw outside the donut shop," Sidner said. "Thisis the clearest angle of theshooting as it happened. That is Alex Pretti recording on hiscell phone as Border Patrolagents arrive outside the donutshop. He goes into the streetwaving cars through.
"Now here ishow the Department of Homeland Security described how Prettiapproached federal agents: 'An individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with anine-millimeter semiautomatichandgun.' That's not what video shows.It shows federal agents approach Pretti, all he has in his hand isa cell phone, not a gun.
"Thenyou see him moving one protesteraway from agents while agentsshove another to the ground ashe tries to help the protester they shoved, agents deploy pepperspray. Three wrestle him to theground, more join in fromanother angle. You see one agentpunching him in the face with acanister of pepper spray in hishand. Pretti is on the groundunder them, nothing appears inhis hands. You can see anofficer in a gray jacket walkinto frame."
"Seconds later,agents shout, 'He's got a gun!'" Sidner added. "One agent removes a gun from hisbelt. He steps away from thescene, carrying a firearm seenhere in his right hand. Turnsout state authorities say Prettihas a license to legally carry agun, but you never see him drawit. Instead, an agent draws hisgun while standing above Prettiand fires the first shot. Prettisurvived, somehow rising up tohis knees, then agents fired atleast ten more times.
"Pretti'sbody slumps face down in thestreet, lifeless, but federalauthorities weren't done withtheir accusations against him."
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