The tragic death of Alex Pretti, the Minneapolis VA intensive care nurse killed during a confrontation with ICE agents, has taken yet another devastating turn with the emergence of statements from his ex-wife. According to the Associated Press, the woman—who has chosen to remain anonymous—had not spoken to Alex since their divorce more than two years ago, when she left Minnesota for good. Her decision to break her silence now has sent shockwaves through both supporters and critics of the Pretti family, offering a glimpse into Alex’s past that contrasts sharply with the heroic image painted by his parents and adds painful layers to an already heartbreaking story.
The ex-wife told reporters she was not surprised to learn that Alex had been present at demonstrations connected to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. She recalled his deep involvement in protests following the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer—an event that unfolded dangerously close to the neighborhood where the couple once shared a home. Those demonstrations, she said, saw Alex become vocal and outspoken, particularly in his criticism of law enforcement. Yet she was careful to draw a clear line: while he was unafraid to challenge police verbally during heated moments, she never once witnessed or believed him to be physically aggressive. The distinction feels crucial in the current climate, where every detail of Alex’s final encounter is being dissected for signs of threat or resistance.

Perhaps the most unsettling detail she shared concerns Alex’s relationship with firearms. Roughly three years ago—while they were still married—he obtained a permit to carry a concealed weapon and owned at least one semiautomatic handgun at the time of their separation. The revelation lands like a thunderclap amid the family’s insistent claims that Alex was unarmed during the fatal ICE incident, holding only a cellphone in one hand and raising an empty palm with the other. His parents have repeatedly emphasized that he posed no danger and was simply trying to shield a woman who had been knocked down. The ex-wife’s disclosure does not directly contradict that account of the day he died, but it introduces a troubling context: a man who once chose to arm himself legally now finds himself at the center of a narrative where the absence—or presence—of a weapon has become the fulcrum of public debate.
Her comments have ignited fierce division online and in the media. Supporters of the Pretti family view the ex-wife’s statement as opportunistic at best and malicious at worst. They argue that someone who has had no contact with Alex for over two years is in no position to offer authoritative insight into his character or recent behavior. Many dismiss her words as irrelevant or even vindictive, suggesting she is exploiting the tragedy to settle old personal scores or to align with narratives that paint Alex as more volatile than his grieving parents claim. They point to her anonymity as evidence of questionable motives, asking why she would speak now if not to cast doubt on the family’s version of events.
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On the opposite side, critics of the family and defenders of the ICE agents seize on her account as validation of their suspicions. They argue that a history of vocal anti-police activism combined with legal firearm ownership creates a far more complicated picture than the “gentle hero” portrait Michael and Susan Pretti have presented. Some go further, suggesting that these details lend credence to official reports that may have described Alex as non-compliant or threatening during the encounter. The revelation about the concealed-carry permit has been weaponized in comment sections, with users asserting that a man who once carried a semiautomatic handgun could not be dismissed as entirely non-threatening, regardless of what he held in his hands that fateful day.
The ex-wife’s measured tone—she emphasized Alex’s lack of physical aggression—has done little to quell the storm. Instead, it has only deepened the polarization. Her words sit uncomfortably between empathy and implication, refusing to fully exonerate or condemn. She neither glorifies nor vilifies her former husband; she simply states what she knew from their shared past. Yet in doing so, she has handed ammunition to every side in a battle that shows no sign of abating.

For the Pretti family, already shattered by loss and then by vicious accusations from Trump administration officials including Stephen Miller, this latest chapter adds another wound. Michael and Susan have pleaded for truth and compassion, insisting Alex was a good man who died trying to help. Now, the voice of someone who once knew him intimately introduces shadows they cannot easily dispel. Whether her account ultimately clarifies or complicates the search for answers remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Alex Pretti’s death has become more than a personal tragedy. It has evolved into a contested narrative where every memory, every detail, and every silence is fought over with unrelenting intensity.




