tt_“Nothing in his voice sounded like goodbye,” Alex Pretti’s mother reveals in her first public words, revisiting their last phone call days before his death—a tender moment shadowed by unspoken fears that has stunned the community with how suddenly life turned

Multiple accounts have emphasized that in the moments leading up to his death, Alex Pretti was holding a mobile phone — not any kind of weapon.

In the days before the incident, Pretti had spoken with his parents, Michael and Susan, over the phone. Speaking to the Associated Press after his passing, they recalled a calm, ordinary conversation that now feels painfully significant in hindsight. They discussed recent repairs to the garage door at Alex’s home. According to his parents, the repair worker was Latino, and Alex had chosen to leave a generous $100 tip, motivated by the tense atmosphere unfolding at the time in Minneapolis.

Michael and Susan were aware that their son intended to attend a protest and said they had openly talked about it with him earlier. Michael explained that during a conversation roughly two weeks prior, they encouraged Alex to express himself peacefully but urged caution.

“We told him it was fine to go and stand up for what he believed in,” Michael said, “but not to get involved in anything risky or confrontational.” He added that Alex fully understood their concerns and reassured them that he would be careful.

After losing contact with their son, the family eventually received confirmation of his death from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, after unsuccessfully attempting to reach Minnesota authorities for answers.

In a public statement released once his death was confirmed, Pretti’s family described him as a compassionate and thoughtful person. They strongly disputed the official version of events provided by federal authorities, calling those claims deeply disturbing and untrue.

“We are devastated, but we are also furious,” the statement read. “Alex wanted to contribute something meaningful to the world. Tragically, he will not be here to witness the impact he hoped to make.”

Several witnesses later submitted sworn statements describing what they observed during the incident and the moments that followed. One witness, a woman who had been driving nearby, said Pretti helped direct her where to park amid the unrest. She stated that he was calmly recording the situation on his phone and assisting others who were being threatened with chemical spray by federal agents.

According to her account, Pretti raised his hands and was sprayed again, then pushed. She said he attempted to help a woman who had been knocked to the ground. From her perspective, his actions appeared focused on assistance, not defiance.

Another witness, a 29-year-old licensed pediatrician, said they tried to step in and provide emergency aid when Alex was in critical condition. Despite clearly identifying themselves as a doctor, the physician said they were delayed while agents asked repeatedly for credentials. After being searched to confirm they were unarmed, the physician was eventually allowed to reach Alex.

The doctor reported that Alex was lying on his side, surrounded by several agents, and that no immediate life-saving checks or care appeared to be underway. When asked whether Alex had a pulse, the agents reportedly said they were unsure. The physician then checked and could not detect one, prompting them to begin emergency resuscitation efforts until paramedics arrived and took over.

Later information revealed that Alex had suffered extensive injuries within a very short span of time, underscoring the suddenness and severity of the incident.