Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old VA intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis during an immigration crackdown. His family, who described him as deeply caring and upset by immigration policies, disputes federal claims that he brandished a weapon, stating bystander videos show him with a phone and shielding a woman.
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a VA hospital and an avid outdoorsman, was shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis on Saturday. The incident occurred amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, which Pretti's family stated he was deeply upset by, leading him to participate in protests against such policies, including after the killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer. Pretti, a U.S. citizen with no criminal record, was described by his father, Michael Pretti, as someone who 'cared about people deeply' and found the immigration policies 'terrible.' Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti approached officers with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun. However, bystander videos reportedly show Pretti with a phone in his hand, with no visible weapon, and even shielding a woman being pepper-sprayed. His family confirmed he owned a handgun and had a concealed carry permit but stated he never carried it. The family learned of Pretti's death from a reporter and struggled to get information from federal agencies, expressing heartbreak and anger over what they called 'sickening lies' from the administration suggesting their son was a 'domestic terrorist.' They emphasized that videos show him without a gun when he was tackled. Pretti's ex-wife confirmed his history of protesting, including after the killing of George Floyd, and his Democratic political views. Neighbors described him as quiet, warmhearted, and helpful. His parents had recently cautioned him to be careful while protesting. Their last conversation revealed his empathy, as he gave a Latino worker a significant tip, and his concern for environmental issues.
