Stella Carlson, the Minneapolis woman whose phone recorded the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, has spoken publicly for the first time about what she witnessed. Known online as the “pink coat lady,” Carlson said she had planned a normal day when she heard whistles warning neighbors of immigration enforcement nearby and decided to stop and document what was happening.
Carlson described Pretti as calm and focused on helping others, not acting aggressively. Her video shows him assisting a woman who had fallen before the shooting occurred. She says he never drew his legally owned firearm, and the footage appears to show an officer unholstering a weapon moments before shots were fired, a moment she says she will never forget.
The video quickly spread online and raised questions about early official statements describing Pretti as the aggressor. Carlson says she has not yet been contacted by federal investigators and remains concerned about how the situation has been handled. Her footage has become central to public discussion about transparency, accountability, and the use of force during law enforcement operations.
Despite the emotional toll, Carlson believes recording what she saw was the right decision. She says everyday people can make a difference by documenting important moments and helping ensure that events are accurately understood, especially when serious incidents affect families and communities across the country.
