Alex Pretti: ICU Nurse Killed by Federal Agents in Minneapolis Sparks Controversy

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Minneapolis was rocked by the fatal shooting of an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse named Alex Jeffrey Pretti on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

The 37-year-old was shot and killed by a United States Border Patrol agent at approximately 9:00 a.m. local time on Nicollet Avenue, known as Eat Street.

The incident happened amid widespread protests against the federal immigration crackdown, adding to a long list of tensions between authorities and the community in the city.

Alex Pretti's death drew intense attention because it was the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks, following the shooting of Renée Good on January 7.

It was also the third shooting involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis in January 2026.

The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault. pic.twitter.com/0JmEsJ1QFW

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 25, 2026

Video footage of the incident shows Alex Pretti filming law enforcement agents with his cell phone and attempting to direct traffic at the scene.

He is then seen standing between an agent and a woman who was pushed to the ground by the agent, attempting to embrace and assist the woman.

Pretti is then pepper-sprayed and wrestled to the ground by several federal agents. About six agents surround him as he is shot and killed.

Eyewitness video verified by Reuters and The Wall Street Journal shows an agent taking a gun from Pretti and walking away less than a second before another agent shoots him.

Federal authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), claim that Pretti approached a U.S. Border Patrol agent with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and resisted disarming.

However, witnesses, in sworn testimony, stated that Pretti was not holding a weapon and was trying to assist a woman who was pushed to the ground by a federal agent.

“The agents pulled the man on the ground. I didn’t see him touch any of them – he wasn’t even turned toward them. It didn’t look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up. I didn’t see him with a gun. They threw him to the ground. Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him."

Publicly available video also does not show Pretti holding a weapon, even though he was legally licensed to carry a handgun.

The Pretti family has vehemently denied the Trump administration's version of events, calling it a "disgusting lie" and asserting that Alex was not holding a weapon when he was attacked.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti is a US citizen who grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was active in the theater program and vocal quartet at Preble High School, where he graduated with honors.

Pretti graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2011 and worked as a research scientist before earning his nursing license in January 2021.

He then dedicated his time as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, caring for critically ill veterans.

Pretti has also been a junior scientist at the University of Minnesota since 2012, where his work has appeared in research related to the treatment of infections and cancer.

Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, chief of infectious diseases at the VA hospital, described Pretti as an exceptional nurse and deeply committed to patient care.

In his personal life, Alex Pretti had a short marriage that ended in 2023 and was known as a nature lover and avid traveler.

He was also an activist concerned with social issues.

His ex-wife, Rachel Canoun, mentioned that Pretti had participated in protests following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

His father, Michael Pretti, stated that his son had also protested the murders of Macklin Good and Renee Good, and was deeply upset by President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in his city.

His family described him as "a kind soul who cared deeply for his family and friends, as well as the American veterans he cared for."

Alex Pretti's death shocked his family, friends, and colleagues. He was remembered as a kind, competent, and quiet person.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) expressed its deep distress and sadness over Pretti's death, condemned the violence, and called for a full and transparent investigation.

Several prominent U.S. sports stars and Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda also condemned the killing and called for prayers for peace in Minnesota.