ICU Nurse Alex Pretti Shot Dead by Border Agents in Minneapolis

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was shot and killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents on January 24, 2026, near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis's Whittier neighborhood. The incident happened around 9:05 a.m. CST during ongoing protests against a federal immigration crackdown ordered by the Trump administration. Pretti, who had a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm in Minnesota, was across the street from a donut shop where agents were chasing someone who had run inside. He was directing traffic and watching the scene when agents confronted bystanders, leading to the fatal shooting.

Background

Protests in Minneapolis started after federal agents shot and killed Renée Good on January 7, 2026. That event brought thousands to the streets, upset over the aggressive immigration enforcement. A week later, agents shot a Venezuelan man, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, in the leg. He survived. These were the first two shootings by federal immigration officers in the city in recent weeks. Tensions kept building as more agents arrived to carry out deportations under the crackdown. Local people gathered often to watch and sometimes block the agents. Pretti had joined earlier protests, his family said. He felt strongly against the immigration policies. On the morning of January 24, a crowd formed again near the donut shop. Agents tried to get inside after locking the doors behind the person they chased. People across the street, including Pretti, watched and helped keep traffic moving safely.

Pretti worked as an ICU nurse for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He cared for veterans in critical condition at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Friends and family remembered him as kind and helpful. His father said he cared about people deeply. Coworkers called him the type of person everyone liked being around. He smiled a lot and made jokes to lighten the mood. Outside work, Pretti loved the outdoors. He went mountain biking often and spent time in nature whenever he could. He got his nursing license in 2021, and it stayed active. Nursing groups across the country spoke out after his death. They said nurses face more risks now when they speak up for patients or join protests peacefully.

Key Details

Videos from the scene show Pretti recording the agents with two legal observers. One observer wore an orange backpack. Agents crossed the street and told the group to back up. One agent pushed the observer with the backpack 28 seconds before the first shot. Pretti moved to the sidewalk to help. He stood between an agent and a woman who had been shoved to the ground. The agent pepper-sprayed Pretti. Pretti then wrapped his arms around the woman to protect her. Another shove sent both falling back, still holding on.

The Shooting and Aftermath

Agents fired at least ten shots over five seconds, according to reports. Two officers pulled the triggers. Pretti suffered at least three bullet wounds in the back, one in the upper-left chest, and possibly one in the neck. He died at the scene. Medics tried to revive him but could not. A physician nearby wanted to help right away but agents stopped him at first. They said he needed to show his license. Once allowed, the doctor saw the wounds and later wrote a sworn statement. Witnesses said agents did not do CPR on Pretti. Instead, they turned him on his side and seemed to count the bullet holes. No one saw Pretti attack the agents or pull a weapon.

A witness who stood near Pretti described the moments before the shots.

"The gentleman I was standing next to was focused on helping people who were coming into Nicollet Avenue understand that they needed to take it slow and helping them get through. The ICE agents approached us, told us to back up, back up. I'm not even sure why—we were helping them, if anything. And I got on the snow bank, and next thing I knew, they shot him." – Eyewitness at the scene

Another witness saw agents push a woman. She grabbed onto Pretti for help, and that's when things turned physical.

The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti had a firearm, two magazines, and no ID. They claimed he wanted to "massacre law enforcement" and resisted when they tried to take his gun. But Minnesota officials and Pretti's family said he had a legal carry permit. His family never saw him carry the gun before, even though he owned one. The on-site Border Patrol commander noted the shooting officer had eight years on the job and training as a Range Safety Officer. Agents stayed back from Pretti's body for about 45 seconds after the shots. Then they kept their distance until medics arrived.

Reactions from Colleagues and Groups

Nursing organizations reacted quickly. The American Nurses Association called for a full investigation with clear results shared soon. They worry about violence against nurses, saying one in four already face it at work. The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses sent condolences and said nurses must stand up for patient rights. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses backed a transparent probe. A coworker, Dr. Dmitri Drekonja, spoke about Pretti.

"He was the type of person you enjoyed being around and the notion that this helpful, smiling joking guy was being labeled a terrorist? It’s galling." – Dr. Dmitri Drekonja, coworker

What This Means

This shooting marks the third by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in three weeks. It adds fuel to protests already underway. Local leaders question the use of force in crowded areas. Federal claims of threat clash with witness accounts of Pretti helping others. The incident highlights risks for bystanders and workers like nurses who join public demonstrations. Families and communities now demand answers on why agents fired so many shots at close range. Investigations continue by local and federal levels. Protests may grow as people process the loss of Pretti, seen by many as a caring nurse caught in a tense moment. Nursing groups push for better protection for healthcare workers off-duty. The immigration crackdown keeps agents active in cities, raising questions about safety for everyone involved. Pretti's death leaves his VA colleagues short a key team member who helped save lives daily. His story shows how protests and enforcement collide on city streets, with real people in the middle.