Tricia McLaughlin Says Situation Wasn’t Safe Until 10 Rounds Were Fired at Man on Pavement

MINNEAPOLIS — DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the killing of Alex Pretti on Saturday, explaining that the situation remained dangerously unsafe until federal agents fired approximately ten rounds into him while he lay face-down on the pavement.

According to McLaughlin, the decision to continue shooting was made out of an “abundance of caution,” as Pretti—who was already on the ground, surrounded by agents, and no longer moving—had not yet reached what officials consider a “fully neutralized” condition.

“Officer safety is our top priority,” McLaughlin said, emphasizing that threats can persist even after a person has been wrestled down, pinned to asphalt, and rendered incapable of doing anything. “The presence of a human body in a public space can be unpredictable.”

McLaughlin urged Americans not to focus on misleading video footage showing Pretti face-down and unarmed at the time of the shooting, noting that such visuals often fail to capture the internal fears experienced by officers as they continue firing.

She also rejected claims that the number of shots fired was excessive, stating that federal agents are trained to reassess threats continuously and respond with additional gunfire until the situation “feels resolved.”

Administration officials reiterated that more details would be forthcoming, possibly explaining why the threat remained active until the tenth bullet but not the ninth.