Tragedy struck Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, when Alex Pretti, a dedicated ICU nurse at the Veterans Affairs medical center, was fatally shot by federal immigration agents during a confrontation in North Minneapolis.
ICU Nurse Dedicated to Veterans
Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse who spent his career caring for American veterans. He worked at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, a role he clearly took seriously and cherished.
“A member of our union lost their life today, and that alone is devastating. Our hearts are heavy, and we are deeply stricken by this tragedy that has befallen one of our own,” the AFGE Professional Local 3669 union said in a statement.
Dr. Dmitri Drekonja, who worked with Pretti, told ABC News that Pretti was “a guy you just enjoyed being around. He was someone who always said, ‘what can I do to help with this.’ It was fabulous.”
- Age: 37 years old
- Employment: ICU nurse at Minneapolis VA Health Care System
- Education: Graduate of Green Bay Area Public School District (2006)
- Nursing License: Active in Minnesota through March 2026
- Previous Role: Junior scientist at University of Minnesota Medical School
Morning of Tragedy
Pretti had ventured into Minneapolis’ streets to witness and protest what was happening in his community regarding federal immigration enforcement. On the morning of January 24, he was using his cell phone to record federal immigration agents in an ethnic neighborhood of North Minneapolis.
Bystander videos tell a compelling story of Pretti’s final moments:
- He was directing traffic and helping a bystander who had been knocked down
- As he stood with his arm around the woman, an agent sprayed him in the face with a chemical weapon
- A group of agents tackled him to the ground
- After an agent confiscated his legally registered handgun, additional agents fired multiple shots
- Pretti died at the scene
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Pretti approached Border Patrol agents with a 9mm handgun and “violently resisted” when they tried to disarm him. However, local officials and witnesses have disputed this account.
“Multiple videos of the confrontation showed federal agents spraying Pretti with a substance and pinning him to the ground before the shooting” — ABC News
Community Reactions
Pretti’s colleagues and friends remember him as a kind, helpful, and caring person who put patients and others at ease.
“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. Drekonja told reporters.
“This is a guy who, within minutes, puts people at ease with his humor, smiling, quick with a joke… He was a guy who put people at ease.”
Mac Randolph, a friend who treated his father at the VA, posted a video showing Pretti giving the final salute at the VA after his father passed away in 2024. “Today we remember that freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it and even sacrifice for it,” Pretti says in the video.
“He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE” — Michael Pretti, Alex’s father
Background and Background
Michael and Susan Pretti released a statement to Minnesota lawmakers describing their son: “Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.”
Chris Di Salvi, a high school and college friend of Pretti from Green Bay, described him as someone who was “genuine, he was kind, he was friendly to everybody that I know. I can’t stress how much he was kind to everybody.”
The White House and administration officials have attempted to portray Pretti as someone who “attacked” and wanted to “massacre” agents. However, bystander videos contradict these accounts, showing Pretti was on the ground, face down, when he was shot.
The federal government has attempted to block any state or local investigation into the shooting.
Timeline of Events
January 24, 2026: Alex Pretti is fatally shot by federal immigration agents in North Minneapolis while helping a bystander and directing traffic.
January 24-25, 2026: Multiple videos circulate showing different perspectives of the confrontation. Federal officials release accounts contradicting witness reports.
January 25-26, 2026: Community members and colleagues hold memorials and share stories of Pretti’s character. AFGE union releases statements condemning the administration’s handling of the situation.
“In Minneapolis, Alex Pretti died as he lived: taking care of others” — The 19th
Investigation and Aftermath
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned federal claims and admonished the government for a “rush to judgment” without spending more time gathering evidence.
The two federal agents involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Pretti was a legal gun owner with no criminal record. Minnesota’s gun laws permit open carrying of a handgun with a valid permit.
“Pretti, who worked as a nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, was issued a Minnesota nursing license in 2021 that remained active through March 2026,” according to state records.
Remembering Alex Pretti
Pretti’s story has sparked outrage across Minnesota and beyond. Protesters have gathered at the scene of his death and held vigils to remember the nurse who dedicated his life to caring for others.
“He was a guy who always said, ‘what can I do to help with this.’ It was fabulous.”
The tragedy has raised questions about federal immigration enforcement practices and the treatment of American citizens who become collateral damage in immigration raids.
As the investigation continues, many are calling for transparency and accountability in the case of Alex Pretti, a dedicated nurse who lost his life while trying to help others.
Sources & References
- What we know about Alex Pretti, VA nurse killed by federal agent in Minneapolis – ABC News
- In Minneapolis, Alex Pretti died as he lived: taking care of others – The 19th
- Minneapolis nurse identified as person killed by federal agents – Axios
- Federal agents involved in deadly shooting of Alex Pretti placed on leave – WLIX
- Community reaction and social media response – Threads
Image Credit: Michael Pretti via AP / Adam Gray/AP
Tags: ICU nurse, Immigration enforcement, Minnesota, Federal agents, Healthcare workers, Veterans affairs, Community tragedy
Reading Time: 8 minutes
Word Count: Approximately 1,650 words
Sources Cited: 5 credible sources including ABC News, The 19th, Axios, WLIX, and community sources