A man who died during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis over the weekend has now been identified, and his family has begun speaking publicly about who he was and why he was there.

On Saturday, January 24, 2026, a man was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer during an operation in south Minneapolis. Officials said the man was armed at the time of the encounter. The shooting occurred amid an expanded federal crackdown in the city and just weeks after another fatal incident involving immigration agents sparked protests and national attention.

According to reporting from the Associated Press, the shooting took place during what federal authorities described as a targeted enforcement action along Nicollet Avenue. Hospital records later confirmed that the man died from at least one gunshot wound. Initial reports listed his age as 51, but updated information corrected it to 37.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed that the incident occurred during a broader federal immigration operation. The Department of Homeland Security said the man was carrying a firearm and two magazines. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described the situation as “evolving” and said details were still under review.

Bystander video later obtained by the Associated Press showed a chaotic scene unfolding on a snowy Minneapolis street. In the footage, people can be heard blowing whistles and shouting at agents. One officer appeared to push a person wearing a brown jacket, green skirt, and black tights who was holding a water bottle. That person reached toward a nearby man, and the two briefly embraced.

The man, dressed in a dark brown jacket and a black hat, then appeared to raise a phone toward the officer. The officer pushed him in the chest, and both fell backward. The video briefly cut away before resuming, showing the two separating as several officers quickly surrounded the man. Within seconds, at least seven officers were visible.

One officer appeared to kneel on the man’s back while another, holding what looked like a canister, struck him in the chest. As officers attempted to restrain him, the man appeared to struggle. His face briefly became visible before he was struck near the head multiple times. Gunfire followed, though the video did not clearly show who fired the shots. Moments later, the man lay motionless on the pavement as officers stepped back.

The man’s identity was not immediately released, but family members and colleagues later confirmed that he was Alex Jeffrey Pretti.

Pretti was a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and worked as an intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital. Born in Illinois, he had no criminal record, according to court documents reviewed by the Associated Press, aside from a handful of minor traffic violations.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Pretti studied nursing at the University of Minnesota, where he also worked as a junior scientist at the university’s medical school beginning in 2012. Records from the Minnesota Board of Nursing show that he received his registered nurse license on January 19, 2021. The license was active at the time of his death and was set to expire in March 2026.

Colleagues described Pretti as a dedicated and compassionate caregiver. Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, chief of infectious diseases at the Minneapolis VA and a professor at the University of Minnesota, said he worked closely with Pretti.

“He wanted to help people,” Drekonja said. “He was a super nice, super helpful guy. Looked after his patients. I’m just stunned.” He described Pretti as an outstanding nurse who was hardworking, quick with a joke, and brought an infectious energy to the workplace.

Outside of medicine, Pretti was known for his concern about environmental issues. His mother, Susan Pretti, said her son was particularly upset by federal rollbacks of environmental protections. She said he loved the country but felt increasingly troubled by what he believed was happening to it. He also enjoyed spending time outdoors and frequently brought his dog, Joule, a Catahoula Leopard dog who had recently died, on hikes and trips.

Pretti’s father, Michael Pretti, said his son had been deeply affected by recent federal immigration actions, including the fatal shooting of another Minneapolis resident earlier in the month.

“He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset,” he said. “He felt that protesting was a way to express that care.”

According to Pretti’s ex-wife, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, he had a history of political engagement and was active in past demonstrations. She said she was not surprised he may have attended protests against immigration policies. The two had not spoken in more than two years following their divorce, after which she moved out of state.

She described Pretti as a Democratic voter who participated in protests following the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. While she said he could be outspoken during demonstrations, she had never known him to be physically aggressive. She also noted that he had obtained a permit to carry a concealed firearm several years ago and owned at least one semiautomatic handgun at the time of their separation.

Pretti’s death came less than three weeks after another fatal shooting during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis.

On January 7, a woman was shot and killed by an immigration agent during a separate enforcement action in south Minneapolis. Authorities initially said she posed a threat, but video footage and witness accounts raised questions and sparked outrage across the city.

That woman was later identified as Renee Nicole Good, 37. Her family confirmed her identity, and the Minneapolis City Council issued a statement mourning her death, saying she was a resident who had been caring for her neighbors when her life was taken.

Good described herself on social media as a poet, writer, guitarist, wife, and mother, and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Originally from Colorado, she received recognition in 2020 for her poetry while studying creative writing at Old Dominion University in Virginia before later settling in Minneapolis.

Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Star Tribune that the family was notified of Good’s death late Wednesday morning. After learning some of the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Ganger expressed disbelief and heartbreak, saying her daughter was likely terrified. She said Good had no involvement in protest activity and described her as deeply compassionate and devoted to helping others.

Good had previously been married to Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., who died in 2023 at age 36. The couple shared a child, now six years old. Macklin’s father said he was concerned about his grandson’s future and expressed his intention to step in and provide care if needed.

In the Powderhorn Park neighborhood, residents gathered to mourn. Neighbors salted sidewalks to manage the steady flow of people visiting memorials. While many declined to speak publicly, one neighbor described the Good family as kind and close-knit, recalling how Good’s young son loved playing outside and doted on her dog, Hazelnut.

As investigations into both deaths continue, the two fatal incidents have placed federal immigration operations in Minneapolis under intense scrutiny. For many residents, the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good have become symbols of a broader debate over enforcement tactics, accountability, and the human cost of federal operations carried out in their community.