The tragic death of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti during a federal law-enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026 has become a focal point of national outrage, debate, and calls for transparency. Pretti, a registered nurse at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, was described by family, friends and colleagues as a compassionate caregiver devoted to helping others — a man whose final actions, his loved ones say, were rooted in altruism and protection, not threat or violence.
According to multiple reports, the fatal encounter occurred during a federal immigration enforcement action that was underway in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has claimed Pretti “approached” U.S. Border Patrol officers with a handgun and resisted efforts to disarm him. Local officials — including Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara — and eyewitness video tell a different picture, showing Pretti holding only his cellphone moments before the confrontation began and being subdued prior to the use of lethal force.
Family members have vehemently rejected the government’s characterization of events. In a powerful and emotional statement, Pretti’s parents said they are simultaneously heartbroken and furious, calling the official narrative “sickening lies.” They insist their son was unarmed, holding his phone, and attempting to help a woman who had just been shoved by agents when he was pepper-sprayed, tackled, and shot. They have repeatedly urged the public to “please get the truth out about our son,” emphasizing his integrity, kindness, and dedication as a health care worker.
Witness footage that has circulated online appears to show Pretti being pinned to the ground by multiple federal agents before he was shot, leading to intense scrutiny of the encounter and how force was applied. Community outrage spilled into protests in Minneapolis, echoing tensions already ignited by the earlier fatal shooting of Renée Good by an ICE agent earlier in January.
Public figures and leaders from across sectors — including health workers, elected officials, and business figures — have responded with calls for accountability, independent investigations, and transparency as the legal and public safety ramifications of the shooting continue to unfold. Meanwhile, federal officials have said evidence, including body-camera footage, is being preserved even as state and local authorities press for access to build a clearer picture of what happened.
As the nation watches, Pretti’s final moments — the contrast between the family’s portrayal of him as a man trying to help and federal authorities’ account of a confrontation — remain at the heart of the debate. The tragedy has become more than a single headline; it has sparked broader questions about law enforcement conduct, public trust, and the need for transparent review of deadly force in complex, high-profile incidents.