The grieving family of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a dedicated intensive care nurse from Minneapolis who was fatally shot by a federal immigration officer, has released a searing public statement that directly accuses the Trump administration of propagating what they describe as 'sickening lies' about the circumstances of his death.
Family Demands Public Scrutiny of Video Evidence
In their emotionally charged statement, issued after reviewing bystander footage of the incident, the Pretti family has made an urgent plea for the public to examine the video evidence themselves. They assert that this footage makes it unmistakably clear that their son was holding a mobile phone, not a firearm, at the moment he was attacked and killed.
'We are heartbroken but also very angry,' the family declared, expressing a mixture of profound sorrow and mounting fury over the official narrative surrounding the tragedy.
Contesting the Federal Account
The family's statement presents a direct challenge to federal claims that Pretti 'approached' officers while armed. Instead, they frame his final actions as a protective gesture, not an act of aggression. According to their account, the video shows Pretti with his phone in his right hand while his left hand was raised above his head in a defensive posture as he attempted to shield a woman whom ICE officers had reportedly pushed to the ground, all while being subjected to pepper spray.
'I do not throw around the hero term lightly,' the family wrote with poignant emphasis. 'However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.'
A Life of Service Remembered
The statement paints a vivid portrait of Alex Jeffrey Pretti as a compassionate healthcare professional deeply committed to his community. 'Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital,' they recalled, highlighting his dedicated service to military veterans at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs medical facility.
Strong Condemnation of Official Statements
The family's language grows particularly forceful in their condemnation of the administration's characterisation of events. 'The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,' they stated unequivocally. 'Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.'
This represents one of the most blistering public rebukes from a grieving family to federal authorities in recent memory, escalating the controversy surrounding the use of force by immigration enforcement officers.
A Plea for Truth and Justice
Concluding their powerful statement with a heartfelt appeal, the family implored: 'Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.' This simple yet profound request underscores their primary objective: to reclaim their son's narrative from what they perceive as official distortion and to ensure his memory is honoured accurately.
The case continues to raise significant questions about transparency, accountability, and the use of lethal force by federal immigration authorities, with the family's statement adding considerable emotional weight to ongoing calls for a thorough, impartial investigation.
