More than a thousand people gathered in Salt Lake City on Thursday to protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, as part of a national day of action called the 'National Shutdown.' The rallies came one week after federal agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse from Minneapolis, during a confrontation at an immigration enforcement operation. Protesters marched through downtown, chanting for justice and changes to how federal agents handle protests.
Background
Alex Pretti worked as an ICU nurse for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He lived in Minneapolis and often took part in local events. On January 24, 2026, he was near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood, close to his home. Federal agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol were there carrying out immigration enforcement under Operation Metro Surge. This operation followed the killing of Renée Good on January 7 by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis. It was the third shooting by federal immigration agents in the city in three weeks.
Protests against these enforcement actions had grown across the country. People opposed what they saw as heavy-handed tactics by federal agents in urban areas. In Utah, nurses and others felt a strong connection to Pretti because of his job in health care. They held vigils and joined larger rallies to call for more compassion in how immigration is handled.
Eleven days before his death, on January 13, Pretti had another run-in with immigration agents. Video showed him spitting on an ICE vehicle, kicking out its tail light, and scuffling with officers after they stopped. He had a handgun in his waistband but did not pull it out. His family said he got injuries in that fight but no medical help. Pretti had a legal concealed-carry permit.
Key Details
The fatal incident started when agents tried to enter a doughnut shop where someone they were chasing had gone. Shop workers locked the doors. Pretti was across the street, recording the agents with his phone and helping direct traffic. Videos from witnesses show agents pushing two civilians in the street. One was a woman with an orange backpack. Pretti stepped in to help her and another person. He stood between an agent and the woman, briefly touching the agent's waist.
The Shooting Sequence
An agent pepper-sprayed Pretti. Agents then tried to arrest him. He resisted, leading to a struggle on the ground. One agent yelled, 'He's got a gun!' five seconds before shots rang out. A Border Patrol agent fired first, hitting Pretti three times in the back as he braced against the pavement, still holding his phone and glasses. A Customs and Border Protection officer fired next, adding six more shots in five seconds while Pretti lay motionless. Video analysis shows Pretti's right hand held his phone and his left held nothing visible. An agent removed a handgun from Pretti's waistband after he was down.
A doctor nearby tried to help but said agents blocked access at first. They seemed to count bullet wounds instead of giving aid right away. The doctor saw wounds in Pretti's back, chest, and possibly neck. He did CPR until medics came. Pretti died at the scene. Department of Homeland Security said agents gave aid with chest seals and that medics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:32 a.m.
Two agents were involved in the shooting. Witnesses and video frame-by-frame reviews say Pretti did not brandish his gun. DHS claimed he approached with a handgun and they fired in self-defense after trying to disarm him.
"Nothing about that previous encounter could possibly have justified Alex's killing." – Attorney for Pretti's family
Utah nurses held a vigil Thursday evening for Pretti. Hundreds came to honor him and push for reform in immigration enforcement. They stressed the need for compassion.
What This Means
The shooting has led to a federal civil rights probe by the Justice Department. It looks at witness statements, videos, and other evidence. This is separate from the Homeland Security investigation. Minnesota state investigators have been kept out so far. No word yet on sharing evidence with them.
Political figures weighed in. Former President Trump called Pretti an 'agitator' and 'insurrectionist' after the earlier video surfaced. He described Pretti as 'crazed and out of control' for damaging the ICE vehicle. FBI Director Kash Patel said people cannot bring loaded firearms with extra magazines to protests. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem first said Pretti brandished his gun and attacked officers. She later stepped back from that, as videos showed otherwise.
Protests spread beyond Salt Lake City. In Idaho, people chose solidarity with Pretti on the anti-ICE day. Nurses in Henderson held a vigil with photos of him. The events put a spotlight on armed protesters and how agents respond. Gun rights groups noted Second Amendment issues, while others called for limits at demonstrations.
The case raises questions about use of force by federal agents during protests. It also highlights tensions around immigration enforcement in cities far from borders. Vigils continue, and families wait for investigation results. Agents involved remain on duty pending reviews.
