Alex Pretti – The Killing
Curated news from the world’s leading sources | Updated: January 28, 2026
BACKGROUND
Alex Jeffrey Pretti
On January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive‑care nurse for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot and killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident occurred near the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, amidst protests supporting Operation Metro Surge. Pretti was recorded on a cellphone during the incident and was pepper‑sprayed and shot by several federal agents.
His death prompted media coverage from Reuters, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, and Associated Press. The case is currently under investigation. [Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Pretti).
INCIDENT
Details
Video recordings show Pretti filming law enforcement agents with his phone and directing traffic. He stood between an agent and a woman whom the agent had pushed to the ground, putting his arm around the woman. He was subsequently pepper‑sprayed and wrestled to the ground by several federal agents, with around six surrounding him when he was shot and killed.
Border Patrol agents removed his gun, and the shooting lasted at least ten shots within five seconds. The shooting accelerated ongoing protests against US immigration forces locally and nationally.
IMPACT
Aftermath
Local officials and witnesses reported that the shooting prompted a swift response from the Department of Homeland Security and that media coverage was extensive. The case remains under investigation, with ongoing updates from local and national media outlets.