‘They took our son away from us.’ Alex Pretti’s family is heartbroken as they recount how a secretive group transformed their son

In a gut-wrenching statement released just days after their son’s tragic death on January 24, 2026, Michael and Susan Pretti painted a devastating portrait of a devoted son whose life was dedicated to saving others — but who they say was forever altered by the horrors he witnessed during the escalating protests against aggressive immigration enforcement operations.

Alex was a ‘kindhearted soul’ who made us proud every single day, his father Michael told reporters outside their Colorado home, his voice cracking with grief. The couple, who raised their boy with strong values of compassion and service, described him as a proud, caring man who poured his heart into his work at the Minneapolis VA Hospital, where he tended to veterans in the intensive care unit.

He cared about people deeply, Michael said, tears welling up. Alex was the kind of nurse who stayed late to comfort frightened patients, who remembered birthdays, and who treated everyone with genuine kindness. But in recent months, something changed. Deeply disturbed by reports of families being torn apart and people being ‘grabbed off the street’ under the new federal crackdown, Alex felt compelled to speak out.

The parents revealed they had a heart-to-heart with their son just two weeks before the fatal shooting. We begged him to be careful, Susan recalled. ‘Go ahead and protest, but don’t engage, don’t do anything stupid,’ we told him. Alex promised he understood — but friends say he became more consumed by the cause, attending demonstrations, sharing videos online, and shifting away from his usual talks about nursing shifts, hiking trips, and walks with his beloved dog.

Tragically, that passion may have led to his untimely end. On that fateful Saturday morning, amid chaos on a Minneapolis street during an immigration enforcement action, Alex was shot multiple times by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. Official accounts claim he approached officers armed and posed a threat — but his devastated family insists bystander videos tell a very different story.

The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting, the Prettis’ statement blasted. Available footage shows him holding a phone, not a weapon, trying to help others while being pepper-sprayed. They vehemently reject claims that Alex was a violent agitator, calling for the truth to emerge from multiple ongoing investigations reviewing video evidence and witness testimony.

Alex wanted to make a difference in this world, they wrote poignantly. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. The words have struck a chord nationwide, fueling outrage over what many see as excessive force in the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration sweeps — sweeps that have already claimed another life in Minneapolis earlier this month.

The shooting has ignited widespread fury, with protests erupting across the city and beyond. Hundreds have gathered at vigils, holding candles in Alex’s memory, while crowds have clashed with heavily armed federal agents in tense standoffs on the streets.

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These dramatic scenes capture the raw anger and sorrow gripping Minneapolis — protesters facing off against riot-geared federal officers amid snow-covered streets, American flags waving defiantly alongside signs demanding justice.

Alex’s colleagues at the VA Hospital remember him as a dedicated professional whose calm demeanor saved lives in the high-pressure ICU environment.

Smiling in scrubs, stethoscope around his neck — this is the Alex his family and friends knew: a proud, caring healer who lived to serve others.

The grief has spilled over into candlelight vigils nationwide, where mourners gather to honor not just Alex, but all those caught in the crossfire of heated immigration debates.

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Tear-streaked faces illuminated by flickering flames — these haunting images show communities united in sorrow, demanding answers and accountability as investigations continue.

The Prettis’ words have amplified calls for transparency, with critics accusing officials of a cover-up while supporters of stricter enforcement point to Alex’s licensed firearm and prior altercations with agents (including a scuffle 11 days earlier captured on video). Yet the family remains steadfast: their son was no threat — he was a good man trying to stand up for what he believed was right.

As Minneapolis remains on edge and protests show no sign of slowing, one thing is clear: Alex Jeffrey Pretti’s death has become a flashpoint in a bitterly divided nation. His parents’ plea echoes loud and clear — please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.

Their unimaginable loss serves as a stark reminder of how quickly passion for justice can turn deadly in these turbulent times. America watches, heartbroken and divided, waiting for answers that may never fully heal the wound left behind.