In the wake of Alex Pretti’s death, the Trump administration and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem released statements painting Pretti as a dangerous agitator. Officials alleged that Pretti was armed and intended to inflict maximum damage on law enforcement officers. To support this narrative, images of a purported firearm were circulated by the administration. However, this version of events was quickly challenged by investigative reports and leaked footage that suggested a vastly different reality. Multiple sources indicate that if Pretti had been in possession of a weapon at any point, he had been disarmed long before the fatal shots were fired. Continue reading…