Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and American citizen, on Saturday morning at 26th and Nicollet streets in south Minneapolis. The incident happened during an immigration raid as Pretti joined protesters trying to block the operation. Videos from the scene show a federal officer in a gray jacket reaching into a scuffle with Pretti and emerging with a gun, then turning away as the first shot fired.
Background
Minneapolis has seen rising tensions over federal immigration enforcement under President Trump. The operation, called Operation Metro Surge, targets people in the country illegally, including those wanted for crimes like domestic assault. On Saturday around 9 a.m., Border Patrol agents chased a man suspected of such a crime through the neighborhood. Protesters gathered quickly, blowing whistles, honking horns, and yelling to disrupt the raid. Alex Pretti, who lived nearby, stepped into the street. He held a phone in his right hand and nothing visible in his left, according to bystander videos. Pretti had a permit to carry a gun and no criminal record, state records show.
Local residents like Javier, who lives a few blocks away, rushed to the scene after neighbors called about the raid. The area has become a flashpoint as federal agents carry out arrests amid protests. This shooting marks the third by federal agents in less than three weeks, following two others tied to immigration enforcement. Minneapolis had only three homicides in 2026 so far, two by federal agents, city officials noted over the weekend.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz reviewed the videos and called the federal self-defense claim nonsense. State investigators from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension got a judge's search warrant but say Department of Homeland Security reps blocked them from the scene.
Key Details
The Moments Before Shots
Videos captured from multiple angles show Pretti standing in the street, phone raised. Protesters threw objects like ice at agents, and one federal statement mentioned a rampant assault, including an agent's finger bitten off. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that person was arrested and federal prosecutors would file charges.
A scuffle broke out. Footage shows agents pulling Pretti to the ground. A witness, a local children's entertainer on the way to work, filed a sworn statement in federal court. They said Pretti was directing traffic and approached agents with a camera, not a gun. The witness saw agents throw Pretti down while he tried to help a woman up. He did not touch agents or resist much, the statement claims.
In the key video moment, a gray-jacketed agent reaches empty-handed into the group around Pretti. The agent pulls back with a gun in his right hand, turns away, and runs across the street. Shots fire right after, hitting Pretti.
Federal Response
Border Patrol leaders say the agent acted in self-defense after trying to disarm Pretti. Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino spoke at a Sunday news conference. When asked if videos showed an officer taking a weapon before shooting, he called it speculation and did not confirm Pretti brandished a gun.
"Whether I knew him or not, he died for the cause." – Javier, local resident and witness
DHS stands by the agent's actions amid the chaos. President Trump announced Monday he is sending border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota. Trump called Homan tough but fair, saying he will report back. Two federal hearings are set for Monday on the shooting.
What This Means
The videos have fueled sharp divides. State officials question the federal account, pointing to footage where Pretti holds only a phone before the shots. Witnesses back this, saying he did not threaten agents with a weapon. Federal side stresses the dangers agents face, like thrown objects and the finger-biting incident.
Protests continue in Minneapolis as locals push back against the raids. Pretti's death as a protester has drawn attention from figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who urged Trump's supporters to think about role reversals. The case highlights clashes between federal immigration pushes and local resistance. Minnesota officials want full access to investigate, but DHS controls the scene.
Broader fallout includes more scrutiny on Operation Metro Surge. With three agent-involved shootings recently, city leaders note it matches the year's total homicides. Bondi's push for charges in the assault on the agent shows federal determination to protect officers. Pretti's clean record and nursing job paint him as an everyday protester caught in the middle.
As hearings start Monday, questions linger on the agent's decision to shoot after disarming. Videos show the gun taken moments before, challenging claims Pretti posed an active threat. Homan's visit could signal stepped-up federal presence or efforts to calm tensions. Minneapolis braces for more raids and reactions. The shooting tests balances between enforcement and protester rights in tense neighborhoods.
