Alex Pretti Killed During Federal Immigration Enforcement Operation in Minneapolis.

Over the weekend in Minneapolis, federal immigration agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, during a large immigration enforcement operation that has drawn intense local and national scrutiny.

According to federal authorities, a U.S. Border Patrol agent fired on Pretti during a confrontation early Saturday morning. The Department of Homeland Security has claimed that Pretti was armed with a handgun and posed a threat to officers, but multiple independent video reviews and eyewitness accounts have cast doubt on that narrative.

Conflicting Accounts and Emerging Evidence

Officials with Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security maintain that Pretti approached agents with a weapon during what they described as a lawful enforcement action tied to “Operation Metro Surge,” a broad crackdown on undocumented immigration in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area.

However, bystander videos and subsequent forensic analysis shared by news outlets show a more unsettled sequence of events. In footage circulating online and verified by multiple outlets, Pretti is seen holding a phone and appearing to film federal agents before he is pepper-sprayed and forced toward the ground by several officers. At one point, a Border Patrol agent is observed removing a handgun from Pretti’s waistband before another agent fired multiple rounds.

Law enforcement leadership has not yet confirmed whether the agent who fired was aware Pretti had been disarmed, and the head of the Border Patrol declined to answer detailed questions about the number of shots fired or whether Pretti brandished a weapon when the shots were fired.

Who Was Alex Pretti?

Friends, family, and colleagues describe Pretti as a devoted health care worker and community member. At 37, he had worked as a registered nurse caring for veterans and was known among friends as compassionate, thoughtful, and engaged in social causes. He also was an avid outdoorsman and a lawful gun owner, though family and community members assert he did not pose a threat during the incident.

Pretti had participated in local protests against immigration enforcement after the January 7 fatal shooting of another Minneapolis resident by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. His family and those close to him said he was filming or documenting agent activity and intervening on behalf of others at the scene when he was shot.

Public Reaction and Legal Response

The shooting has sparked protests in Minneapolis, with demonstrators and civil rights groups questioning the use of force by federal agents. Vigils and gatherings have also taken place in other cities, highlighting broader concerns about federal enforcement tactics and transparency.

Minnesota officials have taken legal action: a federal judge granted a temporary order requiring the Department of Homeland Security to preserve all evidence related to the shooting after a lawsuit from state authorities. Local leaders argue that a local investigation is necessary to ensure accountability and to secure evidence before it is lost or altered.

National figures from across the political spectrum have weighed in, calling for full investigations and demanding clarity from federal agencies. Former senior government officials have described Pretti’s death as a “tragedy” and a moment for national reflection, while labor unions and civic organizations have urged a reevaluation of U.S. immigration enforcement tactics.

A Broader Flashpoint in Federal Policing Policy

The death of Alex Pretti marks one of several violent encounters between federal agents and civilians in Minneapolis in recent weeks. Critics argue that unprecedented federal immigration operations in the city have strained relations between local communities and law enforcement, raising questions about jurisdiction, the use of force, and constitutional rights during protests and civil engagement.

As investigations continue and more evidence is collected, the case has become a flashpoint in broader debates over federal authority, public safety, and the limits of law enforcement in democratic societies. What remains clear is that Pretti’s death has intensified calls for accountability, transparency, and a reexamination of how immigration enforcement intersects with civil liberties.