Two Shootings, Two Narratives

Good morning.

We've spent years analyzing how security failures happen. Equipment malfunctions. Training gaps. Intelligence breakdowns. But what we're watching unfold in Minneapolis is different: the operational challenge of competing narratives.

When federal enforcement and local authorities can't agree on basic facts, every security professional operating in that jurisdiction faces increased risk. Not because anyone is necessarily wrong, but because the absence of consensus creates uncertainty that affects tactical planning, coordination, and threat assessment.

This matters whether you're working for federal agencies, local law enforcement, private security, or corporate protection. Because when institutions can't align on what happened, they can't align on what happens next.

On January 24, Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, during a protest in South Minneapolis. It's the second fatal shooting involving federal immigration enforcement in the city in 18 days.

The incident has ignited a national debate not because the facts are simple, but because they're contested at every level.

The disputed narrative

The Department of Homeland Security's initial account stated that Pretti "approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun" and "violently resisted" attempts to disarm him, forcing agents to fire in self-defense.

Bystander video analyzed by multiple news outlets (Wall Street Journal, CBS, The Guardian) presents a different sequence. The footage shows Pretti holding a cellphone, assisting a woman who had been pepper-sprayed by agents. Multiple videos capture agents tackling Pretti, with one officer appearing to remove a holstered firearm from Pretti's waistband before shots are fired.

Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid Minnesota carry permit and no criminal record, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara.

In a phone interview with the Wall Street Journal, President Trump stated he "didn't directly answer when asked twice whether the officer who shot Alex Pretti had done the right thing," saying, "We're looking, we're reviewing everything and will come out with a determination."

The Renee Good case

The Pretti shooting follows the January 7 death of Renee Nicole Good, shot by an ICE agent during a vehicle stop. The official account indicated the agent was in the direct path of her vehicle. A private autopsy commissioned by the family shows Good was shot three times, with the fatal head wound entering from the side rather than the front.

Federal authorities have declined to provide the weapon, vehicle, or unredacted reports to state investigators, complicating the Hennepin County Attorney's ability to pursue charges.

The operational environment

Between 2,000 and 3,000 federal agents are currently operating in the Twin Cities, including BORTAC units typically deployed for border operations. The scale and tactics of "Operation Metro Surge" have created friction with local law enforcement.

On January 25-26, federal agents deployed tear gas outside a hotel reportedly housing tactical teams. Minneapolis Police officers were already on scene managing the crowd but received no communication from federal agents before the chemical munitions were deployed.

Minneapolis Police Chief O'Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey have called for federal withdrawal, citing concerns about coordination and escalation. Governor Tim Walz has demanded agents leave the state. The Border Patrol Union has defended agent actions, stating they are trained to protect themselves in high-risk situations.

Our take:

Whether you view these incidents as justified force or federal overreach, the operational reality is the same: contested jurisdictions create dangerous environments for all security professionals.

When agencies can't agree on basic facts, security teams lose the institutional support that standard procedures rely on. This isn't about picking sides; it's recognizing that jurisdictional chaos increases risk for everyone.

Tactical considerations for security directors:

Visibility management: Teams carrying lawful firearms need to consider how their posture will be perceived by multiple agencies with different rules of engagement.

Coordination breakdown: When federal and local agencies don't communicate before deploying munitions, protective details can't rely on standard law enforcement coordination.

Documentation protocols: Video evidence is becoming the primary arbiter of disputed accounts. Ensure all enforcement interactions are documented.

Client advisories: Legal rights (concealed carry permits, freedom of movement) may be contested in real-time by agencies with conflicting authorities.

Until investigations clarify what happened and agencies align on protocols, contested jurisdictions require elevated caution from all operators.

Step into the future of executive security and close protection at the Executive Security & CP Technology Forum, hosted by CTGI on 29th January 2026 at the Connaught Rooms, London.

On January 15, the UK's Security Industry Authority prosecuted Bright Sight Management Limited for deploying 26 untrained security staff across 832 shifts using fraudulent licenses.

832 shifts is not a mistake. It’s a business model.

The mechanism: buy a cloned SIA license for £300, deploy untrained personnel to fulfill low-cost contracts, pocket the difference. Venues get warm bodies in high-vis jackets. Everyone saves money.

Until something goes wrong.

If you're a corporate security buyer in the UK accepting agency assurances about license validity, you're sitting on a corporate manslaughter charge waiting to happen. Spot-check every guard. Physically inspect the card. Validate it against the public register. The regulatory system isn't doing its job; your procurement process needs to compensate.

Four teenagers arrested in LA on January 17 after hitting multiple high-net-worth residences, including Brad Pitt's home, used Wi-Fi jammers to disable security systems. They tracked principals' travel via social media (Pitt was in London), deployed $50-$300 jammers to blind wireless alerts, and breached perimeters while monitoring companies received nothing.

Residential systems rely on 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequencies. Jam them, and the system dies. Equipment is readily available. Barrier to entry: nil. Effectiveness: absolute.

It’s time to rethink how we utilize wireless security systems. Hard-wired PoE cameras, cellular backup with frequency-hopping, and RF detection are now baseline. The retrofit costs six figures but beats explaining how a $300 tool defeated your entire system.

🇻🇪 VENEZUELA – The January 3 detention of Nicolás Maduro has created a retaliatory environment. ExxonMobil CEO called Venezuela "uninvestable"; Trump threatened to exclude them from the market anyway. Energy executives face exposure from both the host nation and their own government. Brazil condemned it as a "kidnapping." Anti-American sentiment in the region is spiking; travel to Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico requires elevated threat awareness.

🇬🇹 GUATEMALA – A 30-day State of Siege is in effect following gang attacks that killed seven police officers. Constitutional guarantees are suspended. Security personnel can be detained without charge. All non-essential travel should be canceled. Existing teams: shelter in place, avoid government buildings and prisons.

🇬🇧 UNITED KINGDOM — in London twice in one week, replacing flags and triggering violent clashes. Diplomatic protection is meant to be sacrosanct. Seeing it breached so easily raises uncomfortable questions about response capability in high-risk zones.

CELEBRITY STALKING – Cherish Gomer, 31, arrested for felony stalking of Post Malone at his Utah home. Geographic relocation doesn't deter fixated persons. They're using data brokers and leaked databases to locate private residences. Shell companies aren't hiding property ownership anymore. Conduct privacy audits. Scrub data from people-search sites.

BOOKING.COM BREACH – Hackers hijacked official hotel accounts to message guests demanding payment. The messaging looks legitimate because it is: compromised hotel accounts. Protocol: no payments via booking platform links. Voice verification to the hotel front desk only.

Executive Protection is entering a new era: digital exposure is now a direct pathway to physical risk. We speak with Jason Bolwell, Global Executive Protection Manager at BP, about how AI has accelerated threat capability, making it easier to identify executives, track movements, scrape personal data, and weaponize online narratives.

Q: What’s the biggest factor in building a long-term career in executive protection?

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ A. Specialization (35%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 B. Networking & Reputation (39%)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ C. Adaptability (14%)

🟧⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ D. Continuous Training (12%)

Your Comments:

ST: "Health and well-being and joint care. Bad decisions at training can put you of work for weeks.”

RF: “Reputation can be everything.”

BK: "Be reliable and discreet so clients and your team trust you completely."