The tragic death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on January 24, has become one of the most deeply debated and emotional stories in recent U.S. news — and now a close friend has shared a deeply personal account that challenges circulating online rumors and misinformation.

According to his friend’s tearful recollection, the final minutes of Alex’s life were marked not by confusion or violence but by the same selfless compassion he showed every day in his work. Minutes before the fatal encounter, Alex had been his caring, devoted self — the ICU nurse known for helping critically ill patients and comforting their families. Just moments later, bystander video reviewed by multiple news outlets shows Pretti stepping in to protect a woman who had just been pushed to the ground by federal agents, placing his arm around her as a shield.

Family members have firmly rejected the baseless “new girlfriend” narrative spreading online, emphasizing that there was no romantic involvement at the time — only Alex’s instinct to help another human being in distress. “All Alex ever wanted was to help someone, anyone,” his sister said, recalling the man who saved countless lives in the ICU and tried to help that day on the street.

This frame of events — backed by widely shared and independently verified video footage — paints a strikingly different picture from early official statements that tried to depict Pretti as a threat. Instead, footage and witness accounts show him holding what appears to be a cell phone, not a weapon, while attempting to assist others moments before agents wrestled him to the ground and ultimately shot him.

Misinformation about romantic entanglements has exploded online, but the real story — of a good man lost while trying to protect someone in need — resonates far more powerfully for those who knew him and those following the case closely.

As public outcry continues, investigations into the conduct of the federal agents involved remain underway, with questions about transparency, use of force, and justice still very much unresolved. What really happened in Alex Pr