Video of Minneapolis anti-ICE protester with injured hand is real, but cause of injury is unclear

Warning: This story contains graphic content.

After federal immigration officers fatally shot Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026, members of the surrounding community came together to create a memorial to Pretti and to protest the massive federal presence in the city. A video shared to social media of one such protest appearing to show an injured protester circulated online . 

Many internet users shared the video with captions stating that a less-lethal round — a type of ammunition designed to incapacitate or stun subjects — fired by federal agents struck the protester's hand, causing serious injury. Others said the person had picked up a flash-bang grenade that then detonated, causing their injuries.

As the footage of the incident went viral, Snopes readers wrote in and searched the site looking for more information. We reached out to the person who originally posted the video to social media but had not heard back at time of publication. We also contacted the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to allow them to comment. They also had not responded. 

We were able to confirm that the footage taken of the incident, after the protester had been injured, was real. However, despite an extensive search, we were unable to find additional video evidence showing how the individual was injured. As such, this story remains unrated. 

The video contained no signs of being generated using artificial intelligence tools. Snopes geolocated the footage to the intersection of Blaisdell Avenue and West 26th Street, one block from where Pretti died. The point of view faced toward the location of the memorial to Pretti set up at the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and West 26th Street, although it was hidden under a white smoke, likely tear gas. A large, armored vehicle can be seen in the background. Reporting and other social media video confirmed that federal agents were in the area around the memorial to Pretti and were using armored vehicles like the one seen in the background of the video.

The earliest example of the video Snopes found online was posted on Jan. 25, 2026, the day after Pretti was shot. In Reddit comments, the user who initially uploaded the video, under the title "Protestors finger blown apart by Ice gestapo at Alex Pretti protest in Minneapolis" said it was taken by a "buddy" on Jan. 24. Pretti was shot at 9 a.m. that morning.

In the footage, a person runs away from the memorial holding their left hand and takes off a gas mask, before collapsing on the ground and writhing, seemingly in pain. Several protesters yell for medics, and multiple people quickly approach the person, likely to offer medical care. 

Although Snopes reviewed the footage frame by frame, the extent of the protester's injury was unclear. Some posts and comments claimed one or multiple of the individual's fingers had been "blown off" or partially detached from their hand. In comments, others suggested the protester was burned when grabbing a tear gas canister, which can be very hot.