I Am Speaking Up on Deadly Force, the Facts, and What the Video Shows
As a former FBI agent, former law enforcement officer, and former prosecutor, no one ever wants to say, “This is what’s going on and this is what I definitively know.” I only have the same videos that everybody else is seeing. Based on those videos, I do not see evidence indicating there was a need to shoot.
In this CTV News interview, Katherine Schweit, a former senior FBI official and nationally recognized expert on use-of-force and violence prevention, analyzes the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis involving federal ICE agents.
I shared that perspective recently in an interview with CTV News, following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during an enforcement operation involving federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Multiple videos of the incident have circulated publicly, and they are central to understanding how federal deadly force policy applies. Related reporting: https://apnews.com/hub/immigration-and-customs-enforcement
In moments like this, emotions understandably run high. My role is not to speculate or assign motive, but to explain what the law requires. Under current Department of Homeland Security policy, lethal force may be used only when an officer has a reasonable belief that an individual poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm. The presence of a firearm alone does not automatically meet that standard, and de-escalation remains a core expectation of federal law enforcement. DHS Use of Force policy: https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/use-of-force-policy.pdf
This incident has drawn national attention and political response. Statements from former President Donald Trump, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reflect the broader scrutiny surrounding federal immigration enforcement and use-of-force standards. Coverage has also expanded beyond Minnesota, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul commenting on the need for federal accountability in similar cases. Sources: https://apnews.com + https://www.reuters.com
What has been striking is that concern is being voiced by gun owners and non-gun owners alike, including conservative legal and policy groups, all grounded in the same reality: a life was lost, and the law deserves careful, factual examination. Moments like this are why I wrote A Simple Guide to the Second Amendment — to help people better understand what the law does and does not allow, especially when clarity matters most.