Family of Slain VA Nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti Breaks Silence: ‘We Are Heartbroken but Also Very Angry’
Minneapolis, January 27, 2026 — The fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, by U.S. Border Patrol agents on January 24 has ignited widespread outrage, protests, and demands for accountability amid the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
Pretti, a dedicated caregiver to American veterans, was killed during a confrontation near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood. Federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol leaders, initially described the incident as self-defense, claiming Pretti approached agents armed with a handgun and posed an imminent threat. They characterized him as potentially intent on inflicting harm on law enforcement.
However, multiple eyewitness videos, analyzed by major news outlets including ABC News, NBC News, and The New York Times, paint a conflicting picture. Footage shows Pretti recording the scene with his phone before being tackled and pinned to the ground by several agents. In one verified sequence, agents appear to strike him while restraining him, and at least 10 shots are fired in under five seconds—some at close range after he was already subdued. Body-camera footage from the agents is under review, but public videos counter claims of an unprovoked assault by Pretti.
Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit; officials noted his firearm was recovered at the scene, though witnesses and video analysis suggest he was not brandishing it threateningly. He had no criminal record beyond minor traffic violations.
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Pretti’s death marks the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis this month, following the January killing of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot after allegedly driving toward an officer. The incidents have fueled massive protests against ICE and Border Patrol tactics, with demonstrators demanding an end to what critics call “Operation Metro Surge” — a large-scale federal immigration crackdown in the state.
Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, who reside in Colorado, released a poignant public statement addressing the tragedy and refuting official narratives.
“We are heartbroken but also very angry,” they wrote. “Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact.”
They highlighted his final act: “I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman.” Witnesses reported Pretti attempting to aid a female protester who had been thrown to the ground during the chaos.
The parents condemned what they called “sickening lies” from the administration portraying their son as a domestic terrorist or threat. “The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” they stated. “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”
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Pretti’s colleagues at the VA honored him with a hallway tribute on January 26, as doctors, nurses, and staff lined up in silent respect. Union representatives expressed devastation over losing a member who devoted his career to healing veterans.
The shooting has intensified calls for federal restraint in Minnesota, with state officials dismissing terrorism claims as “nonsense” and renewing demands to withdraw immigration forces. Protests continue, with some drawing parallels to past civil rights clashes.
Pretti’s family has launched a GoFundMe to support efforts for justice and truth. As investigations proceed—including reviews of body-cam footage—the nation watches Minneapolis, where tensions between federal authority and local outrage show no signs of easing.
