Family of Alex Pretti denounces ICE Agents after fatal Minneapolis shooting

• Relatives dispute official account, say ICU nurse was unarmed and protecting a woman during immigration enforcement operation

The family of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employee, is demanding answers after he was shot and killed by federal immigration agents during a law enforcement operation in Minneapolis, an incident that has intensified public outrage and renewed protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In a statement provided to CNN, Pretti’s family said they were “heartbroken but also very angry,” rejecting claims by the Trump administration that Pretti posed a threat to officers.

“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,” the family said. “Alex wanted to make a difference in this world.”

‘He Was Protecting Someone’

Family members say bystander videos show Pretti holding a cellphone in one hand while raising the other as he attempted to shield a woman who had been pushed to the ground and pepper-sprayed by agents.

“I do not throw around the hero term lightly,” the family said. “However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.”

They sharply criticized statements from federal officials suggesting Pretti was armed at the moment he was confronted.

“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” the family said. “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked.”

Conflicting Accounts From Officials

The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti was shot after he “approached” Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun during what officials described as a targeted operation seeking an undocumented immigrant wanted for violent assault. Authorities did not specify whether Pretti brandished the weapon.

US President Donald Trump defended the agents’ actions, saying they “had to protect themselves,” and posted an image on social media of a firearm he claimed belonged to Pretti. Trump alleged that local police had been prevented from assisting federal officers and blamed Democratic leaders for immigration policies he said endangered agents.

“These ICE officers had to protect themselves — not an easy thing to do,” Trump wrote.

However, multiple videos circulating on social media and later confirmed as authentic by authorities appear to show Pretti on the ground surrounded by several agents, at least one wearing a vest marked “POLICE,” striking him repeatedly before gunshots are heard. None of the videos clearly show a firearm in Pretti’s hands.

Family Says He Had a Permit but Rarely Carried a Gun

Pretti’s family acknowledged that he owned a handgun and had a legal permit to carry a concealed weapon in Minnesota, but said they had never known him to carry it during protests or daily life.

Court records show Pretti had no criminal history beyond traffic violations. He was a U.S. citizen born in Illinois.

Parents Learned of Death From Reporter

The family said they were not notified by law enforcement and first learned of the shooting from an Associated Press reporter.

“I can’t get any information from anybody,” said Michael Pretti, his father. “The police said call Border Patrol. Border Patrol’s closed. The hospitals won’t answer any questions.”

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner later confirmed that a body matching their son’s name and description was in its custody. As of Saturday evening, the family said they had not been contacted by any federal law enforcement agency.

A Life of Service and Protest

Pretti grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he played multiple sports, was a Boy Scout, and sang in the Green Bay Boy Choir. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2011 with a degree in biology, society and the environment, worked as a research scientist, and later became a registered nurse.

He worked long hours caring for veterans and was described by neighbors as warm, quiet, and quick to help others.

“He has a great heart,” said Sue Gitar, a neighbor. “If something was wrong in the building, he’d jump in.”

Pretti had previously participated in protests, including demonstrations following the 2020 killing of George Floyd and more recent protests opposing federal immigration raids. His ex-wife told the Associated Press she was not surprised he attended protests but said she never knew him to be physically confrontational.

Officials Call for Independent Investigation

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described the shooting as “horrific” and called for the state to lead the investigation. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged the Trump administration to halt the ongoing federal immigration operation in the city.

“This is a moment to act like a leader,” Frey said. “Put Minneapolis, put America first. Let’s end this operation.”

‘Please Get the Truth Out’

In their statement, Pretti’s family made a direct appeal to the public.

“Please get the truth out about our son,” they said. “He was a good man.”

As protests continue and investigations unfold, the killing of Alex Pretti, the second fatal shooting of a civilian by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in less than a month, has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement and the use of force.