The footage, analyzed by major news organizations including the BBC, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, captures a pivotal sequence of events. Pretti is seen attempting to assist a woman who had been shoved to the ground by an agent. As he placed a protective arm around her, he was pepper-sprayed and tackled by a group of roughly six federal agents. In the seconds before he was subdued, the video clearly shows Pretti holding a cell phone in his right hand. While authorities emphasized that Pretti was carrying a registered handgun—which he was legally licensed to possess—the visual forensic evidence indicates he was not brandishing the weapon during the confrontation. Continue reading…
