On Saturday morning, January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old registered ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by a federal Border Patrol agent during a large immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.

The shooting occurred amid heightened tension between federal agents and local residents, following another fatal enforcement-related incident earlier in the month. What began as a targeted federal operation quickly became one of the most closely examined law-enforcement encounters in recent memory, marked by conflicting narratives, public grief, and mounting demands for accountability.

A Neighbor’s Perspective

People who lived near Pretti described him as someone neighbors trusted. One resident who lived in the apartment below him said he was a “wonderful person” with “a great heart,” someone who looked out for others and responded when help was needed. She said she never saw him behave aggressively and was stunned by portrayals suggesting he posed a threat.

“I never thought of him as someone who carried a gun,” she told reporters, echoing disbelief felt by many in the community.

Who Alex Pretti Was

Pretti worked as an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, where colleagues described him as calm, professional, and compassionate—especially during high-stress situations. Friends said he rarely discussed politics and was known for caring deeply about people’s well-being.

Born in Illinois, Pretti held a lawful concealed carry permit and had no criminal record. Outside work, he was active in social causes and had participated in peaceful protests related to immigration enforcement, motivated, according to family, by concern rather than confrontation.

What Officials Said

According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents encountered Pretti near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood while conducting an enforcement action. DHS said Pretti approached officers with a firearm and “violently resisted” efforts to disarm him, prompting an agent to fire in self-defense.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol leadership publicly defended the agents, stating they followed training and protocol in a dangerous situation.

Video and Witness Accounts

Multiple bystander videos and eyewitness statements have challenged key aspects of the federal account.

Footage reviewed by major news organizations shows Pretti holding a cellphone in the moments before the confrontation, appearing to record or observe enforcement activity. He is not seen brandishing or pointing a firearm before being engaged by agents.

In video captured before the shooting, Pretti appears to intervene after an agent pushes another person, stepping between them while continuing to hold his phone. Other footage suggests that an officer removed a holstered weapon from Pretti during a struggle, and the firearm becomes visible only after he is already on the ground.

According to video analysis and audio review, multiple shots—at least ten—were fired within seconds while Pretti was surrounded by agents.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said publicly that Pretti appeared to be documenting events rather than threatening officers, noting that filming law enforcement is protected activity and that lawful gun ownership alone does not constitute a threat.

Family Reaction

Pretti’s parents responded with grief and anger after hearing official statements describing their son as violent. In a written statement, they rejected the federal narrative and said video evidence clearly shows him holding a phone, not a gun, when force was used.

His father said Pretti participated in protests because he was troubled by what he viewed as unfair enforcement practices—not because he wished harm on anyone. The family has called for a thorough, independent investigation and for public statements to be grounded in verified facts.

Community and Political Response

The shooting sparked widespread protests across Minneapolis. Residents demanded transparency and accountability, with many calling for federal agents to withdraw from the city. Businesses near the site expressed shock, describing the loss as that of a neighbor rather than a suspect.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized the federal portrayal of the incident and called for limits on federal operations in the city, saying their presence has fueled fear and instability.

State officials sought access to evidence and investigative materials, pushing back against exclusive federal control of the scene.

Investigations and Ongoing Questions

A federal judge later issued an order preventing the alteration or destruction of evidence related to the shooting, citing concerns about transparency. Requests for body-camera footage and other materials remain a point of contention between federal and state authorities.

Multiple investigations are ongoing. As of now, no charges have been announced.

A Larger Reckoning

The killing of Alex Pretti has become part of a broader national debate over immigration enforcement, the use of force by federal agents, and the right of citizens to document law enforcement activity in public spaces.

For many, his death represents concern about unchecked authority and the risks of aggressive operations in civilian settings. Others argue agents acted within their rules of engagement. What is widely agreed upon is that the case has exposed fractures in public trust.

Those who knew Pretti remember him not as a threat, but as a caregiver, a neighbor, and someone who showed up when others needed help.

As investigations continue, his story remains central to conversations about accountability, transparency, and how a society balances enforcement with restraint—reminding the public that behind every headline is a human life, and a community left searching for answers.