Details have begun to emerge about the 37-year-old man killed by Border Patrol in Minneapolis on Saturday.
The Associated Press reports that Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. resident, was an intensive care unit nurse at the Veterans Administration. His family tells the AP that Pretti was upset by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and the recent death of Renee Good, a motorist who was fatally shot by an ICE officer Jan. 10.
A co-worker tells The New York Times that Pretti was a kind-hearted friend with a sense of humor who was passionate about his job.
“He wanted to be helpful, to help humanity and have a career that was a force of good in the world,” Ruth Anway said.
Another colleague, Dimitri Drekonja, told the NYT this about Pretti: “The default look on his face was a smile.”This undated photo provided by Michael Pretti shows Alex J. Pretti, the man who was shot by federal officers in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Michael Pretti via AP)
Federal authorities say Pretti had a firearm on him when he scuffled with federal agents at 26th and Nicollet but have not said whether Pretti brandished the weapon during his encounter with immigration authorities. They characterized him as someone who was looking to harm officers during an enforcement operation.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters that the Minneapolis resident had a permit to carry the gun legally and had no serious criminal history. Minnesota is a so-called “open carry” state, meaning anyone with a valid permit can have a firearm without concealing it, although some spaces are prohibited.
Pretti attended the University of Minnesota and was issued a nursing license in 2021, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported.
This undated photo provided by Michael Pretti shows Alex J. Pretti, the man who was shot by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Michael Pretti via AP)
Family warned Pretti to be careful amid ICE crackdown
Pretti’s parents, who live in Wisconsin, say they told him to be careful when protesting.
“We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically,” his father, Michael Pretti, told The Associated Press. “And he said he knows that. He knew that.”
The family first learned of the shooting when contacted by the AP. They say they tried reaching out to officials in Minnesota and got nowhere.
Eventually, the family called the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, who they said confirmed had a body matching the name and description of their son.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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