Before he passed away, the last message ICU nurse Alex Pretti sent to his mother consisted of five heartbreaking words that completely devastated her…

Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal officers in Minneapolis.

On Jan. 24, the 37-year-old ICU nurse was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol officers during “a targeted operation” against “an illegal alien wanted for violent assault,” Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin told PEOPLE in a statement.

McLaughlin claimed that a man “approached” officers while armed with a handgun and “violently resisted” as they attempted to disarm him. The victim was later identified as Pretti, a lawful gun owner with a permit, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a press conference.

Witnesses have since shared videos that contradict the DHS’ claims about the shooting, including that he appeared to not have been armed at the time of his killing. In the wake of his death, Pretti’s family released a statement in which they slammed the DHS’ account of the shooting as “sickening lies.”

Here’s everything to know about the late Alex Pretti.

He grew up in Wisconsin

Pretti grew up in Green Bay, Wis., per the Associated Press.

He attended Preble High School — where he played football, baseball and ran track — and graduated in 2006. Outside of sports, Pretti was a Boy Scout and sang in the Green Bay Boy Choir, the AP reported.

Following his death, Pretti’s high school classmate Rory Shefchek described him to PEOPLE as “your average all-American guy,” noting his involvement in “a lot of extracurriculars.”

Pretti was a University of Minnesota alum

Pretti attended the University of Minnesota, per a post on the school’s official Instagram. He graduated from the College of Liberal Arts in 2011.

His family told the AP that Pretti, who they described as an “outdoorsman,” received his bachelor’s degree in biology, society and the environment.

He became a registered nurse in 2021

Pretti worked as a research scientist before ultimately returning to school to become a registered nurse, as his family told the AP. He also previously worked at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Pretti became a registered nurse in January 2021, per his nursing license obtained by PEOPLE, and was working at the VA Medical Center at the time of his death.

Related Stories

Who Was Renee Nicole Good? What to Know About the Woman Fatally Shot by an ICE Agent

25 Photos That Captured a Turbulent Year in American Politics

Pretti’s colleague Dr. Dimitri Drekonja described him to PEOPLE as a “kind guy” and “very, very skilled nurse.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Shaukat — who hired Pretti as a research assistant in 2014, worked with him until 2020 and wrote his recommendation for nursing school — told PEOPLE that he was “just a joy” to work with.

“He was just a really sweet person that you could just talk to. No pretense. No complicated factors. Just who he was is how he came across,” she said. “He was very supportive if you ever needed him to do something — you never had to think twice.”

Pretti was killed by federal officers in Minneapolis in January 2026

Pretti was fatally shot by federal officers in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, during which law enforcement officers were conducting a “targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault,” DHS assistant secretary McLaughlin said.

In a statement on X, the DHS claimed that an individual “approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun” and “violently resisted” as they attempted to disarm him — then, an agent “fired defensive shots” at the suspect.

However, footage verified by The New York Times seems to contradict that account, as Pretti is seen standing among a group of protestors with both hands visible. As agents squirt pepper spray at the group, Pretti is seen holding his phone in one hand and being pinned down on the sidewalk moments later, without holding or pulling a weapon, the footage seemingly shows.

An investigation into Pretti’s death is ongoing.

His family is remembering him for his “kindhearted soul”

Following his death, Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, released a statement and described their son as a “kindhearted soul.”

“We are heartbroken but also very angry,” their statement began, going on to detail how he “cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse.”

They added, “Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact.”