Minneapolis is in mourning after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by U.S. Border Patrol agents. The incident has ignited a dispute between official narratives and those who personally knew Pretti, who is described by family, colleagues, and neighbors as warm, compassionate, and deeply committed to the welfare of the veterans he cared for at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
A poignant video shared on social media captures Pretti delivering a final salute beneath a flag-draped casket of Terrance Lee Randolph, an Air Force veteran who passed away in 2024. Clad in navy scrubs, Pretti solemnly emphasized the enduring cost of freedom, asserting that it demands continual effort, protection, and sacrifice.
Mac Randolph, son of the late veteran, recalled Pretti’s attentiveness during his father's final days. He praised Pretti’s expertise and his respectful treatment of his family, stressing his ability to provide answers and acknowledge their concerns with dignity. "He was truly one of the best of us," Randolph said.
Family members painted a portrait of Pretti as someone deeply sensitive to injustice and mistreatment, particularly saddened by sweeping immigration enforcement efforts under the Trump administration. He reportedly took part in protests following the death of Renee Good at the hands of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on January 7.
Outside his professional and activist roles, Pretti was also an avid outdoors enthusiast. He cherished adventures with his dog, Joule, a Catahoula Leopard who passed away recently. This love of nature extended to his disdain for environmental rollbacks enacted during the Trump administration. His mother noted his passion against environmental degradation, emphasizing his identity as an outdoorsman who cared deeply about the country's future.
Michael Pretti, Alex’s father, expressed on the day of his son's death that Alex was profoundly upset by the immigration enforcement policies, including the apprehension of children and detaining individuals on the streets. "He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong," Michael Pretti conveyed, referencing his son's participation in protests.
Alex Pretti was a U.S. citizen born in Illinois with no criminal record beyond minor traffic infractions. His parents, residing in Colorado, recounted recent conversations advising caution during demonstrations, with Alex acknowledging the need to avoid reckless actions.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that Pretti was shot after allegedly approaching Border Patrol agents armed with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun, though they did not clarify whether he brandished it. Contrarily, bystander videos show him holding a phone at the time and do not depict him with a weapon. His family acknowledged he legally owned a handgun and held a Minnesota concealed carry permit but stated he was not known to carry it regularly.
Following the incident, the Pretti family was initially notified by a reporter and struggled to obtain details from authorities. They encountered difficulties reaching local police, Border Patrol, and hospital officials. Contact with the Hennepin County Medical Examiner eventually confirmed the death. As of the evening after the shooting, no federal law enforcement body had communicated directly with the family.
In response to public statements by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and others describing their son as a "domestic terrorist" and assailant, the family issued a statement condemning these characterizations as "reprehensible and disgusting." They emphasized that video evidence showed Alex holding a phone rather than a firearm, and shielding a woman who was being pepper-sprayed during the incident. The statement implored the public to seek the truth about their son, affirming, "He was a good man."
Raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Pretti participated in multiple sports in high school, was a Boy Scout, and sang in the Green Bay Boy Choir. After earning a bachelor's degree in biology, society, and the environment from the University of Minnesota in 2011, he worked as a research scientist before training as a registered nurse.
An ex-wife referenced Pretti’s Democratic leanings and prior protest involvement, including demonstrations following George Floyd's killing near their former neighborhood in 2020. Though known to be outspoken at protests, she noted he never engaged physically. She confirmed he had acquired a concealed carry permit approximately three years prior and possessed semiautomatic handguns at the time of their separation.
Residents of the four-unit condo building where Pretti lived described him as quiet and warmhearted, often willing to assist neighbors. Neighbors acknowledged his ownership of firearms for hobbyist shooting but expressed surprise at suggestions he carried a pistol publicly. He lived alone, worked extensive hours as a nurse, yet maintained social contacts and occasionally hosted friends.
On a chilly Minneapolis morning following the shooting, community members gathered at the location where Pretti died, assembling candles, flowers, and pine cones arranged to state, "Long live Alex Pretti." Some flowers bore frost from overnight exposure, with police vehicles nearby underscoring the somber vigil's gravity.
Outside the hospital, Pretti was remembered as a competitive cyclist and meticulous car owner. His parents shared that their last conversation included talk of home repairs, where Alex generously tipped a Latino worker $100 amidst the city's fraught socio-political climate.
The family emphasized their son's love for the country, mixed with profound concern for policies and practices he viewed as detrimental to the environment and communities. His mother recounted his opposition to environmental harm and his connection to nature, which shaped much of his personal identity.