Noem press conference remarks on the Pretti shooting
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
“impeded their law enforcement operations, attacked those officers”
Source and context
Analysis
About this source
Poynter fact-check quoting DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's January 24, 2026 press conference statement that Pretti used his weapon to assault law enforcement officers, set against the outlet's review of bystander video.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Noem spoke to reporters at a press conference held the same day as the shooting, addressing the circumstances of the federal enforcement operation.
After the quotation
Subsequent bystander-video analyses by multiple news organizations found Pretti was not seen brandishing a weapon and that his handgun was removed by an agent before the shots were fired.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Were Border Patrol Agent Jesus Ochoa and CBP Officer Raymundo Gutierrez justified in fatally shooting Alex Pretti?
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Noem characterizes Pretti as the aggressor who attacked and impeded officers, which excuses the agents' decision to fire rather than evaluating whether the force used was proportionate to any threat he actually posed.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Jesus Ochoa, Raymundo Gutierrez
Were Border Patrol Agent Jesus Ochoa and CBP Officer Raymundo Gutierrez justified in fatally shooting Alex Pretti?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“No. I don't. It should've not happened. It was a very sad -- to me it was a very sad incident, two incidents.”Read statement
“I'm not so interested in shift in tone. We just need them out of here, and we need accountability for what's happened.”Read statement
“How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?”Read statement