A woman who recorded the widely shared video of Alex Pretti’s fatal shooting told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that she has still not been contacted by anyone in the federal government as part of its investigation — raising fresh questions about how authorities are handling one of the most controversial law enforcement incidents in recent U.S. history.
The unnamed witness — recognizable in footage wearing a pink jacket — spoke with CNN about what she saw on the day Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was killed during a confrontation with federal officers in Minneapolis. Her recordings helped shape public understanding of the incident and contradicted early government statements about Pretti’s actions.
Pretti’s death on January 24, 2026, sparked nationwide outrage and intense political debate. Multiple video clips of the encounter circulated online showing the ICU nurse apparently trying to assist others when federal agents confronted him. These recordings stood in contrast to initial claims from the Department of Homeland Security that described Pretti as a threat.
When asked about whether federal investigators had reached out to her since the shooting, the woman told Anderson Cooper that no one from the federal government had made contact — a detail that has caught the attention of legal observers and civil rights advocates alike.
Her statements have added fuel to already heated discussions about transparency, accountability, and the handling of evidence in the case. Critics have pointed to discrepancies between official accounts and what bystanders recorded, and the fact that a key witness in the case has not been interviewed by government authorities is likely to intensify scrutiny.
The video she captured became one of the defining pieces of evidence that challenged early narratives. In her telling, Pretti was not acting aggressively or brandishing a weapon; instead, he was trying to help a woman who had been knocked to the ground moments before he was shot. These details stand in contrast to initial government claims.
Adding to the complexity is the ongoing clash between federal and local authorities. Minnesota officials have repeatedly voiced frustration over access to the scene and evidence, particularly after multiple videos emerged showing differing versions of events. Critics say that federal restraint in communicating with witnesses like the woman who filmed Pretti potentially undermines confidence in the investigative process.
Pretti’s death has already triggered multiple federal reviews, including probes by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. But as of now, it appears none of these agencies has reached out to the woman whose footage played a critical role in shaping public understanding of what happened.
Among many unresolved questions are why investigators have yet to interview someone who recorded key moments of the incident, and whether all available visual evidence has been fully considered in official inquiries. Legal experts suggest that interviewing eyewitnesses is a standard component of thorough investigations — especially in cases involving use of lethal force.
Public reaction has been intense. Advocates for justice and civil liberties argue that the absence of direct contact with this witness reveals deeper issues in the way federal agencies handle transparency and community trust. They say that without open dialogue between investigators and witnesses, confidence in any resulting findings will remain limited.
For her part, the woman who recorded the video has expressed a lack of confidence in how the investigation is proceeding. Her refusal to remain silent and her willingness to speak to the media have made her one of the more visible figures connected to the case — yet officials have not publicly acknowledged any outreach to her.
As the controversy continues, calls for accountability and for a full, impartial review of the shooting have only grown louder. Lawmakers, civil rights groups, and community leaders are pushing for answers, and the fact that a key witness has not been contacted only adds urgency to these demands.
This moment — where a single recording has become central to a national conversation about policing, federal authority, and public trust — underscores how powerful eyewitness video has become in shaping public understanding of major events. Whether federal investigators will now intervene and speak to witnesses remains an open and consequential question.
