On the morning of January 24, 2026, in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, 37‑year‑old Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and intensive care unit (ICU) nurse.
Was fatally shot by federal agents deployed as part of a large immigration enforcement operation. Pretti, who worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis.
Was legally armed and held a Minnesota concealed‑carry permit, according to local police. What unfolded that morning is now the subject of intense public scrutiny, multiple investigations, and widespread protests.
Shortly before his death, Pretti was among a group of observers and community members recording and watching the actions of immigration agents — including members of U.S. Border Patrol and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) — who were executing enforcement actions in south Minneapolis.
Bystander video and independent analyses show that:
Pretti was holding only his phone in his hand as he filmed the federal agents
At one point he appears to intervene as a woman was pushed to the ground by an agent.
Officers sprayed him with a chemical agent, tackled him to the ground, and restrained him.
According to independent reporting, an agent removed Pretti’s holstered firearm from his waistband while he was restrained, and seconds later shots were fired.
Federal officials initially reported that Pretti “approached officers with a handgun” and that two federal agents fired their weapons in response to what they perceived as a threat.
However, the publicly available video evidence and multiple witness statements clearly show Pretti did not brandish a weapon, and that he was not pointing it at officers at the time he was shot.
Federal and State Responses
Homeland Security officials have stated that internal reviews are underway, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the FBI.
Meanwhile, the State of Minnesota obtained a temporary restraining order requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its agencies to preserve all evidence related to the shooting, after state investigators were blocked from accessing the scene.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have publicly condemned the incident and called for a reduction in the federal enforcement presence.
Remembering Alex Pretti — Family and Community Tribute
In their first public statement following the shooting, Pretti’s family described themselves as both “heartbroken and angry.”
They rejected the federal portrayal of the events, calling portions of the official narrative “sickening lies.” The family emphasized that Pretti was not threatening anyone but was present as a concerned citizen and community member when he was killed.
A Life of Service
Pretti’s loved ones and colleagues shared that he was known as:
A compassionate ICU nurse, dedicated to caring for others, particularly veterans at the Minneapolis VA hospital.
A kindhearted individual who cared deeply for family, friends, and his community.
