Federal Agents Fatally Shoot Minneapolis ICU Nurse During Protest Operation
Federal immigration officers have shot and killed another American citizen in Minneapolis, marking the second such fatal incident within just 17 days following the death of Renee Good. The latest victim has been identified as Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse with no criminal history beyond traffic citations.
Bystander Footage Captures Fatal Confrontation
The incident occurred near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, January 24, 2026. Open-sourced video footage shows Pretti filming Department of Homeland Security agents during an operation when he moved to assist two individuals on the sidewalk near the officers. The agents then began pepper-spraying the group, leading to a physical confrontation.
The footage reveals at least five agents tackling Pretti and dragging him to the ground. While Border Patrol agents struggled with Pretti on the pavement, striking him repeatedly, a gunshot is heard. Moments later, an agent fired multiple shots while Pretti remained on the ground. Ten shots were fired within a five-second period.
Immediately following the shooting, the agents backed away from Pretti's body. One officer, who appeared to be holding a firearm, ran from the scene and concealed himself behind a nearby vehicle.
Conflicting Accounts and Official Statements
The federal government, including President Donald Trump, has claimed that Pretti approached agents with the intent to carry out an attack using a pistol, which they assert was recovered from the scene. However, authorities have not provided evidence that Pretti ever drew the weapon and have declined to answer detailed questions about the confrontation's timeline.
Carrying a licensed handgun with a permit is legal in Minnesota, and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry a weapon.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement claiming Pretti was carrying two magazines' worth of ammunition and did not have identification on his person at the time of the incident.
A Life Dedicated to Care and Service
Alex Pretti lived in south Minneapolis and was originally from Illinois, having grown up in Wisconsin. According to his parents, who spoke with the Associated Press, Pretti worked as an ICU nurse who obtained his nursing license in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. KARE11 confirmed that he had worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs, providing healthcare services to U.S. military veterans.
"He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset," Michael Pretti, Alex's father, told the Associated Press. "He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others."
Colleagues Remember a Skilled and Compassionate Professional
Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, an infectious disease doctor and professor at the University of Minnesota, worked with Pretti at the VA and described him as having a great attitude. In a post on BlueSky, Drekonja recalled Pretti's work helping critically ill veterans and their discussions about taking mountain biking trips together.
"Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA. We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse - I loved working with him. He was a good kind person who lived to help and these f****** executed him," Drekonja wrote, adding "White. Hot. Rage."
In an interview with People Magazine, Drekonja further described Pretti as a "very, very skilled nurse" who was exceptionally capable and always had necessary information at his fingertips during shift summaries. The doctor remembered Pretti as someone who would provide updates on patients' family wellbeing and offer rides or after-work drinks, characterizing him as "just a really kind guy."
Community Ties and Personal Background
WLUK reports that Pretti was a graduate of Preble High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was a regular performer with the school choir and in musical productions. He also participated in football, baseball, and track, was a Boy Scout, and sang in the Green Bay Choir. At the time of his death, he was mourning the loss of his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog.
The shooting has prompted protests in Minneapolis, with federal immigration officers deploying tear gas against demonstrators following the incident. The case continues to raise significant questions about federal agents' use of force and the circumstances surrounding the death of a healthcare professional with no criminal record who was described by those who knew him as deeply caring and committed to helping others.
