Senate, Congress Called Upon To Enact Ban On Extra-Judicial Executions Where Threat Is Not Imminent

Death Penalty Action Sends Letter to Congress Requesting Ban on Extra-Judicial Executions

Editor’s note: Readers can learn more about the situation in Minnesota at our previous article featuring details of the killing of Alex Pretti, in the morning, while he was recording with his cell phone as a witness observer. Just prior to his death,  he appeared to be trying to help a woman off the ground that an agent had pushed down.  It should be noted that Mr. Pretti was shot ( at least ten times, according to other reporting and listening to the available videos.  According to ABC News’ reporting about a privately-hired forensic audio specialist, analyzing video and audio they had obtained, at least ten shots were fired within five seconds, and two separate officers fired them (apparently five each).   If you would like to see CNN’s video on this, where all footage they were able to obtain has been stitched together in the timeline (with narration and yellow-boxes to indicate important activity), you can find that here.  The images are very graphic, and many people were recording with their phones.  

On a different matter, the death penalty will not be at play in the Luigi Mangione case, as a judge has ruled on this issue.  We will be covering this for our readers as well in the coming week.  

In response to our questions to Death Penalty Action, the following information was received, questions in bold, answers in italics: 

Washington, DC – In the wake of the extra-judicial execution of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, Death Penalty Action sent a letter to Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, asking Congress to enact legislation to define and outlaw extra-judicial executions and ensure that government officials who kill individuals who do not present an immediate threat to others are held accountable to their actions.

“No government official has the right to act as judge, jury and executioner,” said Abraham Bonowitz, executive director of the national anti-death penalty group, in a letter sent to Members of Congress. “Death Penalty Action is known for opposing judicial executions, but with the pattern that is emerging in Minneapolis and the refusal of the Administration to acknowledge what anyone with eyes can see, we must speak out.”

After adding language to include ICE and other agents who kill during immigration enforcement activities, Death Penalty Action also re-launched its petition to Congress and is urging the public to call on the House to pass legislation. The original call to action was made in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the rash of highly publicized unnecessary law enforcement killings during 2020.

• Affirms that the use of deadly force against any person who is not an immediate threat is illegal and will be prosecuted as homicide
• Bans “chokeholds”
• Ends no-knock warrants
• Tracks and analyzes data involving immigration enforcement and all law enforcement officer-involved shootings, including data on the race of law enforcement officers and those killed or injured in such shootings
• Investigates law enforcement officers with a track record of abusive use of power, including those in corrections
• Removes impediments to prosecuting government agents and law enforcement officers when there was no legitimate need for the use of lethal violence

Death Penalty Action poster. Image Credit – Death Penalty Action

About Death Penalty Action

Death Penalty Action works on death penalty issues through advocacy, education, and action. The organization emphasizes the importance of fair trials and consistent application of justice in capital cases. Petitions opposing all executions scheduled in the United States are featured on the organizations web page at deathpenaltyaction.org.

Banner Image:  Mom and Daughter at Alex Pretti Memorial: A mom and daughter at the Alex Pretti Memorial on January 27, 2026. Pretti was shot and killed by Border Patrol officers on January 24th, 2026. Image Credit – Chad Davis