A Beloved Nurse and Caring Neighbor
Alex Jeffrey Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who cared deeply for his patients and community. Friends, family, and colleagues remember him as kind, warm-hearted, and dedicated to helping others. Pretti worked at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital, where he earned the respect of veterans and their families for his compassion and skill. Outside of work, he enjoyed being outdoors, riding his bicycle, and going on adventures with his dog.
The man fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis on Saturday was an intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital who was deeply troubled by federal immigration enforcement in the city, his family said to the Associated Press.
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— The National Desk (@TND) January 25, 2026
The Shooting and Conflicting Accounts
On January 24, 2026, during a federal immigration enforcement action in Minneapolis, a U.S. Border Patrol officer shot and killed Pretti. Federal officials said the shooting occurred after Pretti approached officers with a handgun, but bystander video and some local authorities dispute that portrayal.
Videos from the scene show Pretti holding a phone and trying to help a woman when he was pepper-sprayed, wrestled to the ground, and shot as the struggle unfolded. Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit, but friends and family said he was not confrontational and had no serious criminal history.
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Community Response and Calls for Answers
Pretti’s death has intensified protests and political debate in Minneapolis and beyond. Local leaders, including Minnesota’s governor, have criticized federal immigration tactics and demanded transparency. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets, calling for accountability and an end to aggressive federal operations. Unions and civil rights groups have also weighed in, urging a full investigation and changes to enforcement practices.
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