Washington D.C. – Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez have been identified as the two Border Patrol agents shooting suspect Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last month, according to investigative reports released on Sunday. The identification comes as the Department of Homeland Security has notably not revealed their names publicly, raising questions about transparency and accountability in federal law enforcement operations.
Identities Confirmed in Border Patrol Agents Shooting
The Border Patrol agents shooting involved two federal officers with distinct roles and backgrounds. Ochoa has been identified as a Border Patrol agent, while Gutierrez serves as a Customs and Border Protection officer. According to records cited in the investigation, Ochoa, aged 43, and Gutierrez, aged 35, shot at Pretti in January during what authorities described as an immigration enforcement operation.
The Border Patrol agents shooting incident occurred just days after another federal agent, identified as Jonathan Ross from ICE, killed Renee Nicole Good in a residential neighborhood of Minneapolis. This proximity of fatal incidents has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics and raised serious concerns about the use of lethal force in civilian areas.
Operation Metro Surge Assignment
Both officers involved in the Border Patrol agents shooting were assigned to Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement initiative launched in December. This operation deployed scores of armed and masked agents across Minneapolis in what has been characterized as an immigration enforcement dragnet. The operation’s aggressive tactics and military-style approach have generated significant controversy among civil rights advocates and local community leaders.
The Border Patrol agents shooting occurred within the context of this expanded enforcement operation, which marked a significant escalation in federal immigration enforcement activities within major American cities. The use of heavily armed and masked agents in urban residential areas represents a departure from traditional immigration enforcement approaches.
Background of Jesus Ochoa
Jesus Ochoa, one of the agents in the Border Patrol agents shooting, also goes by the name Jesse. He graduated from the University of Texas-Pan American with a degree in criminal justice, demonstrating an academic background in law enforcement. According to his ex-wife Angelica Ochoa, who confirmed these details, the 43-year-old is a resident of the Rio Grande Valley and had long dreamed of working for Border Patrol.
Ochoa joined CBP in 2018, bringing several years of federal law enforcement experience to his role. His ex-wife, from whom he split in 2021, described him as a gun enthusiast who owns approximately 25 firearms, including rifles, pistols, and a shotgun. This personal arsenal reflects a significant interest in firearms beyond his professional duties.
The South Texas native’s background and training have come under scrutiny following the Border Patrol agents shooting, with questions arising about the preparation and psychological evaluation of agents deployed in urban enforcement operations far from traditional border regions.
Profile of Raymundo Gutierrez
Raymundo Gutierrez, the second agent involved in the Border Patrol agents shooting, works in the agency’s Office of Field Operations and joined CBP in 2014. With a decade of federal service, Gutierrez has accumulated considerably more experience than his colleague Ochoa. The 35-year-old officer is also from South Texas, suggesting a regional recruitment pattern for these enforcement operations.
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Significantly, Gutierrez is assigned to a special response team that conducts high-risk operations similar to police SWAT units. This specialized assignment indicates advanced tactical training and experience in situations requiring elevated force capabilities. However, the Border Patrol agents shooting has prompted questions about whether SWAT-level tactics are appropriate for immigration enforcement in residential neighborhoods.
Calls for Transparency and Accountability
Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has publicly stated that the agents involved in the Border Patrol agents shooting should be identified and held accountable. “They should not be anonymous. They should be identifiable. And they have to have rules of engagement that don’t allow them to terrorize and intimidate, harass and assault US citizens and other people,” Raskin emphasized.
This statement reflects growing congressional concern about the Border Patrol agents shooting and similar incidents. Lawmakers are increasingly questioning whether federal immigration enforcement operations are being conducted with appropriate oversight and within constitutional boundaries, particularly when they result in fatal encounters with civilians.
Department of Homeland Security Silence
Despite the public identification of Ochoa and Gutierrez, the Department of Homeland Security has maintained official silence regarding the Border Patrol agents shooting, neither confirming nor denying the identities or providing details about the incident. This lack of transparency has fueled criticism from civil liberties organizations and political leaders who argue that federal law enforcement accountability requires public disclosure.
The Border Patrol agents shooting represents a critical moment in the ongoing debate about immigration enforcement methods, the militarization of federal agencies, and the balance between security operations and civil liberties. As investigations continue, questions persist about training protocols, rules of engagement, and whether these officers will face criminal charges or administrative consequences for their actions in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti.
