As the investigation into the January 24, 2026, fatal shooting of 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti continues, a family member has publicly emphasized the importance of available evidence, including bystander videos, in countering official narratives. This comes as millions across the country express grief over Pretti’s death, with tributes highlighting his dedication to veterans and community service.
Pretti was killed near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue during a federal immigration enforcement operation amid protests. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials state the Border Patrol agent fired in self-defense after Pretti, legally carrying a concealed 9mm handgun, resisted disarmament and posed a threat.
However, multiple bystander videos—verified by The New York Times, NBC News, CNN, BBC, and others—show Pretti holding a cellphone while filming agents and directing traffic. The footage depicts agents pepper-spraying him, pinning him face-down, removing his firearm, and firing at least 10 shots in under five seconds while restrained. Witnesses in sworn affidavits for an ACLU lawsuit testified Pretti was not brandishing a weapon or attacking officers, and he appeared to aid a woman shoved by agents.
In statements released through media and social platforms, Pretti’s family—including parents Michael and Susan Pretti—has urged the public to examine this evidence closely. “Please get the truth out about our son,” they said. “He was a good man.” They described video showing Pretti with a phone in his right hand and an empty left hand raised while being sprayed, rejecting federal claims as “sickening lies” and “reprehensible and disgusting.” A family member echoed this in public comments, stressing the videos as crucial evidence contradicting official accounts.
The family learned of the shooting via an Associated Press reporter, not federal authorities, and reported no initial DHS contact. Michael Pretti told reporters his son cared deeply about people and was upset by immigration enforcement actions, “as millions of other people are upset.”
Pretti’s death has sparked widespread mourning, with supporters describing him as a hero who died helping others. A GoFundMe for his family raised over $1 million quickly, reflecting national sympathy. Protests, vigils, and statements from nursing groups like the American Nurses Association (ANA) and National Nurses United have amplified grief, with ANA calling for a “full, unencumbered investigation” and prompt public findings. Unions and colleagues mourned a dedicated caregiver who “showed up to care for others—in his work and in his life.”
Pretti worked at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System in ICU, caring for veterans. Colleagues remembered his compassion: Dr. Dimitri Drekonja called him capable, friendly, and always asking, “What can I do to help?” Dr. Aasma Shaukat described him as an “upstanding citizen” with strong civic duty. A viral video showed Pretti saluting a deceased veteran patient with words on freedom requiring sacrifice.
Pretti grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, active in sports, Boy Scouts, and choir. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2011 with a biology degree, worked in research, then pursued nursing, joining the VA in 2014 and becoming an ICU registered nurse in 2021. He had no criminal record beyond minor traffic issues and was known as an outdoors enthusiast who loved mountain biking.
This was the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal agents in Minneapolis that month, following Renée Good on January 7, heightening tensions. Protests intensified, with Gov. Tim Walz calling tactics an “occupation” and activating the National Guard. Figures like Rep. Seth Moulton condemned the incident as “murder” and “cowardly,” while poet Amanda Gorman wrote a tribute poem calling it a “jarring betrayal.”
A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order preventing DHS from destroying or altering evidence, after state officials reported being blocked from the scene despite warrants. Investigations are led by Homeland Security Investigations with FBI assistance; body-worn camera footage is preserved but unreleased.
As family members continue highlighting evidence like videos and witness accounts, Pretti’s story has resonated nationally. Mourning spans millions, from veterans he served to strangers moved by his selflessness. The case underscores divisions over enforcement, protest rights, and accountability, with demands for transparency persisting as grief unites many in remembering a life cut short.
