In a gut-wrenching twist that has ignited nationwide fury, a harrowing 3-minute-45-second cellphone video—recorded by Alex Pretti himself in his final moments—has surfaced, capturing the 37-year-old ICU nurse’s desperate attempts to document federal agents’ actions before he was fatally shot in Minneapolis. The footage, now circulating widely online and verified by major news outlets, ends with Pretti’s last recorded words: a calm, concerned “Are you OK?” directed at a woman shoved to the ground and pepper-sprayed by masked officers. Seconds later, chaos erupts—agents tackle him, wrest away his legally carried firearm after a brief struggle, and unleash a barrage of gunfire that leaves the veteran-caregiving nurse dead on the cold pavement.

The release of this raw, unfiltered video has exploded across social media and television screens, transforming Pretti from an anonymous bystander into a symbol of resistance against what critics call an out-of-control federal immigration crackdown. Shot on January 24, 2026, near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood, the clip begins innocently enough: Pretti, phone raised, filming Border Patrol and ICE agents amid rising tensions during an apparent raid. He directs traffic around the scene, whistles to draw attention, and moves to assist a civilian woman in an orange backpack who is pushed down by officers.

Viewers watch in horror as Pretti approaches cautiously, one hand holding his phone aloft, the other raised in a gesture of non-threat. Pepper spray hits him; he shields his face but keeps recording. Agents swarm. A scuffle ensues over his concealed Sig Sauer P320 pistol—legal under his Minnesota permit. The gun is yanked free, yet multiple agents open fire anyway. Audio forensics suggest up to 10 rounds in under five seconds. Pretti collapses. The camera tumbles, capturing blurred glimpses of boots and shouts before going dark.

His final on-camera plea—“Are you OK?”—spoken to the downed woman amid the spray and shoving—has become a haunting refrain in vigils and protests from coast to coast. Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan, released a tearful statement blasting the administration’s narrative: their son was no threat, phone clearly in hand, empty left palm up while trying to help. “He was a good man,” they insisted. “The sickening lies are reprehensible.”

This isn’t Pretti’s first brush with federal fury. Just one week earlier, he reportedly intervened in another ICE operation, stopping his car to shout and whistle as agents chased a family on foot. Five officers tackled him; one leaned heavily on his back, snapping a rib. Medical records show treatment consistent with a fracture—pain meds, rest, hobbling recovery. Federal officials claim no record exists, but sources say Pretti’s name was already flagged in surveillance logs tracking “agitators” in Minneapolis. Was he targeted? The broken rib, still healing, adds a layer of chilling premeditation to the fatal encounter.

The video directly contradicts early federal claims. DHS and Border Patrol initially described Pretti approaching officers “with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun,” intent on attacking. Yet the footage shows no drawn weapon—only a phone. Agents disarmed him after he was down; lethal force followed anyway. Experts, including former DHS officials and policing trainers, have called the shooting “disturbingly unnecessary,” questioning why officers didn’t cuff him post-disarmament instead of firing repeatedly.

The backlash has been seismic. Protests swelled in Minneapolis, with thousands braving subzero temperatures to chant Pretti’s name alongside Renée Good, killed by ICE just weeks earlier. Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz demanded federal withdrawal; Attorney General Keith Ellison pursued legal action to end Operation Metro Surge. Even some Republicans called for deeper probes, wary of the optics. President Trump, after initially dismissing the furor, announced a partial de-escalation and dispatched border czar Tom Homan—though critics see it as damage control, not accountability.

Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, spent his career saving veterans’ lives. Friends recall his quiet dedication, love for his late dog Joule, and belief that “freedom is not free—we have to work at it.” A 2024 video shows him saluting a fallen patient, echoing those words. In his final act, he embodied them—filming injustice, aiding a stranger—only to pay the ultimate price.

The 3:45 clip has gone viral for a reason: it’s undeniable evidence in an era of dueling narratives. No longer just another shooting statistic, Pretti’s death—preceded by injury, captured on his own device, ending with compassion—has forced America to confront uncomfortable questions. How far will federal enforcement go in American cities? When does witnessing become deadly? And why does a nurse checking on a hurt woman end up riddled with bullets?

As bodycam footage remains under DHS review—amid accusations of evidence mishandling—the phone video stands as Pretti’s unfiltered testimony from beyond the grave. His last words, forever on camera: “Are you OK?” In death, he’s forcing the nation to ask the same of itself.