ICU Nurse Alex Pretti Fatally Shot by Federal Agents in Minneapolis
The city of Minneapolis is reeling after federal immigration officers shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse with no criminal history, on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The incident, captured on bystander video, occurred near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue and has ignited widespread protests and intense political scrutiny.
Details of the Fatal Confrontation
Open-source footage shows Pretti filming a Department of Homeland Security operation when he moved to assist individuals on the sidewalk who were being pepper-sprayed by agents. At least five agents then tackled Pretti, dragging him to the ground. The video depicts a struggle, with agents striking Pretti before a gunshot is heard. Moments later, an agent fired multiple shots while Pretti was on the pavement, with ten rounds discharged within five seconds. After the shooting, agents backed away from Pretti's body, and one agent, apparently holding a gun, fled the scene and hid behind a nearby car.
Victim Profile: A Dedicated Healthcare Worker
Alex Pretti, who lived in south Minneapolis, was a licensed ICU nurse who had worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs, providing care for critically ill veterans. He obtained his nursing license in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. His only recorded criminal history involved traffic citations, and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed he was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry a weapon, which is legal in Minnesota.
His father, Michael Pretti, told the Associated Press that his son "cared about people deeply" and was protesting due to his distress over immigration enforcement actions in the United States. "He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others," Michael Pretti said.
Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, an infectious disease professor at the University of Minnesota who worked with Pretti at the VA, described him as a "good kind person who lived to help" and expressed profound anger over his death.
Official Responses and Contradictory Claims
The federal government, including President Donald Trump, has claimed that Pretti approached agents with intent to attack using a pistol allegedly recovered from the scene. However, authorities have not provided evidence that he drew the weapon and have declined to offer a detailed timeline of the confrontation. The DHS issued a statement asserting Pretti was carrying two magazines of ammunition and lacked identification.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz forcefully rejected the DHS's narrative at a press conference, stating, "Thank God we have video, because according to DHS, these seven heroic guys took an onslaught of a battalion against them or something. It's nonsense, people. It's nonsense, and it is lies."
Political Fallout and Investigations
The Minneapolis Senate Delegation offered condolences and pledged accountability. Democratic Senator and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the killing, vowing to hold the agents criminally accountable, accusing "Donald Trump’s extremists" of unleashing carnage.
Protests erupted in Minneapolis following the shooting, reminiscent of those after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by federal agents 17 days prior. In a contentious development, MSNOW's Alex Witt reported that the DHS stated it would investigate the shooting internally, rather than the FBI, despite having already issued a summary claiming self-defense. Witt noted the apparent conflict, suggesting it "would seem like a closed book."
The case continues to develop as calls for transparency and justice grow louder.
