Minneapolis Nurse Killed By Federal Agents Sparks Uproar

On a frigid Saturday in Minneapolis, the life of Alex Pretti—a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, outdoorsman, and community advocate—was cut short in a confrontation with federal immigration agents. The shooting, which occurred on January 24, 2026, has since ignited a fierce debate over law enforcement tactics, government transparency, and the rights of protesters in the United States, especially in cities grappling with the complexities of federal immigration enforcement.

Pretti’s story is, in many ways, emblematic of the tensions simmering in Minneapolis and across the nation. According to BBC, Pretti was remembered by his family as a hero who "touched more lives than he probably ever realised," a sentiment echoed by friends, colleagues, and neighbors. His sister, Micayla Pretti, told the Associated Press that all her brother "ever wanted was to help someone—anyone." His mother, Susan Pretti, described him as an avid outdoorsman who "loved this country, but he hated what people were doing to it." She added, "He hated that, you know, people were just trashing the land."

Pretti’s professional life was one of service. He worked as an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital, caring for the sickest patients, and had previously contributed to cancer research. He was known for his warmth and dedication, with neighbors describing him as quiet, warmhearted, and not someone who carried a gun. "He’s a wonderful person," said Sue Gitar, a neighbor. "He has a great heart." Even outside of work, Pretti’s passions were clear: he loved mountain biking and took his dog everywhere he went.

But it was his activism that ultimately brought him into the orbit of federal agents. Deeply troubled by President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration and the rollback of environmental regulations, Pretti became a familiar face at protests in Minneapolis. He had joined demonstrations after the fatal shooting of Renee Good, another Minneapolis resident, by a federal agent earlier in the month. According to BBC, Pretti was a Democratic voter who had participated in the wave of protests following the killing of George Floyd in 2020. His ex-wife recalled that while Pretti might shout at law enforcement at a protest, she had never known him to be physically confrontational.

Pretti’s fatal encounter with law enforcement was not his first. About a week before his death, he suffered a broken rib during a previous run-in with federal agents. CNN reported that the incident began when Pretti stopped his car after seeing ICE agents chasing what he described as a family on foot. He began shouting and blowing a whistle, actions that led to five agents tackling him, with one leaning on his back and causing the injury. Pretti was released at the scene and later treated with medication consistent with a broken rib. "That day, he thought he was going to die," a source close to Pretti told CNN.

This earlier altercation was not officially acknowledged by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which stated, "DHS law enforcement has no record of this incident." Yet, CNN uncovered that federal immigration officers in Minneapolis had been collecting personal information about protesters and agitators, including Pretti, prior to the shooting. A memo sent in early January instructed agents to capture images, license plates, IDs, and general information on protesters, consolidating it in a single form. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the practice, stating, "When our law enforcement encounter a violent agitator who is breaking the law, obstructing law enforcement or assaulting them, our law enforcement make records to advance prosecution. This is not ground breaking, it is standard protocol."

Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, publicly advocated for an even more aggressive approach, telling Fox News earlier this month, "One thing I’m pushing for right now … we’re going to create a database where those people that are arrested for interference, impeding and assault, we’re going to make them famous. We’re going to put their face on TV. We’re going to let their employers, in their neighborhoods, in their schools, know who these people are." However, DHS has denied running a database of "domestic terrorists," emphasizing that they only monitor and refer threats, assaults, and obstruction to the appropriate authorities.

The events of January 24 unfolded rapidly. According to the DHS, Pretti was shot after approaching Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers while carrying a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and two magazines. Officers attempted to disarm him, but "the armed suspect violently resisted," DHS wrote on X. "Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene." The agent involved was an eight-year Border Patrol veteran.

Yet, eyewitnesses, Pretti’s family, and local officials have challenged the official account. Videos analyzed by BBC Verify show Pretti filming ICE agents with his phone before the confrontation. An agent pepper sprays him, and as Pretti tries to aid a woman on the ground, he is wrestled to the floor by multiple agents. The footage shows him visibly not holding a gun at the time. An agent appears to remove a pistol from Pretti’s waistband only after he is subdued. Less than a second later, an agent fires—ten shots in total. Two witnesses testified they did not see Pretti brandish a weapon. Pretti, it should be noted, was a legal gun owner with a permit to carry a concealed handgun, as allowed under Minnesota law.

Governor Tim Walz has been a vocal critic of the DHS response, particularly their decision to share a photo of a gun and other information on social media before a thorough investigation. Walz called the move "nonsense" and "lies," insisting that the information was unrelated to the shooting. On Sunday, Walz described Pretti as "someone who went to work to care for veterans, someone who was a valued co-worker, someone who relished and lived in this state in a big way, whether it was outdoor activities or being down there on the street as a First Amendment witness to what ICE is doing to this state."

Pretti’s family has condemned what they describe as "disgusting lies" being spread about him, particularly suggestions that he was a "domestic terrorist." They maintain he had no criminal record beyond a handful of traffic tickets and urge the public to "please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man." Dr. Dmitri Drekonja, a colleague, told ABC News, "He was the type of person you enjoyed being around and the notion that this helpful, smiling joking guy was being labelled a terrorist? It’s galling."

In the aftermath, President Trump ordered the top US immigration official in Minneapolis, Gregory Bovino, to leave the city—a move seen by some as an attempt to recalibrate the administration’s approach to federal enforcement amid mounting controversy.

The investigation into Pretti’s death is ongoing, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasizing the need for a thorough review, stating, "there is a lot we don’t see" in the available videos. The incident has left Minneapolis—and much of the nation—grappling with difficult questions about law enforcement, protest rights, and the consequences of increasingly aggressive federal immigration policies.

As the city mourns the loss of a dedicated nurse and community member, the search for answers—and for justice—continues to reverberate far beyond Minneapolis’ snowy streets.