Newly released footage and ongoing reporting have brought intense public attention to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. The incident has become a focal point in debates about federal immigration enforcement, public safety, and use of force.
Pretti, who worked as a VA hospital nurse and had no significant criminal history, was among a group of residents and observers during enforcement actions tied to a large immigration operation in the city. Bystander video reviewed by news organizations shows Pretti holding a phone and appearing to record officers before an interaction with federal agents. Officials from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Congress that two officers fired their weapons during the encounter; they have since been placed on administrative leave pending review, which is standard protocol after such shootings.
There are differences between official accounts and what bystander footage appears to show. Federal officials have described the incident as involving an armed threat, while video and eyewitness reports reviewed by outlets such as Reuters and The Guardian indicate Pretti was initially pinned to the ground and holding a phone at the time the shots were fired. One of the videos suggests that an agent removed a firearm from Pretti’s waistband prior to additional shots being fired, though interpretations vary and investigations are ongoing.
The shooting followed a separate, earlier fatal encounter earlier in January involving federal immigration agents and another Minneapolis resident, contributing to rising local tensions and protests. Hundreds of Minnesotans have held vigils and demonstrations to honor Pretti and others killed during enforcement actions, and local leaders have called for independent investigations into the use of force.
At the same time, federal authorities maintain that assessments of the incident are continuing. Several inquiries are underway, including internal reviews by the Department of Homeland Security and an FBI review of physical evidence. The full sequence of events, including the actions of officers and the circumstances leading to the shots fired, remains under examination by multiple agencies.
In this ongoing situation, different narratives have emerged about Pretti’s final moments, and public response has been shaped by both verified video imagery and official statements. What is beyond dispute is that the shooting has become a subject of wide public scrutiny, intense debate about enforcement practices, and calls for transparency as investigations proceed.
