Alex Pretti’s voice filled the quiet room at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System as he read aloud the words honoring a veteran who had just passed. “Today we remember that freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it, and even sacrifice for it. May we never forget to always remember our brothers and sisters who have served so we may enjoy the gift of freedom.” The 37-year-old intensive care nurse stood at the head of the bed, his tone steady and reverent, pausing for a moment of silence before the bed was gently escorted away. This ritual, a customary tribute at the VA when a veteran dies under their care, captured Pretti in one of his most characteristic roles: a compassionate caregiver dedicated to honoring those who served.

The video of that moment, recorded in late 2024 after the death of Air Force veteran Terrance Lee Randolph from cancer, has resurfaced with profound impact following Pretti’s own death on January 24, 2026. Just two days before he was fatally shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, this clip—shared by colleagues, family, and fellow health professionals—stands as a poignant reminder of the man behind the headlines. Pretti, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA, was known for his kindness, quick humor, and unwavering commitment to patients, especially veterans facing their final days.

Colleagues describe Pretti as someone who brought an “infectious spirit” to the unit. Dr. Dmitri Drekonja, who worked alongside him, recalled bonding over mountain biking trails and praised Pretti as an “outstanding” nurse—diligent, respectful, and always ready with a joke to lighten tense shifts. Dr. Aasma Shaukat, who hired Pretti over a decade earlier for a research position at the VA before he pursued nursing, remembered his “kindness, compassion, and a strong sense of civic duty.” She noted how he lived to help others, whether advancing cancer research or providing bedside care to the sickest patients. In the wake of his death, Shaukat expressed devastation, saying it felt “so wrong” given Pretti’s instinct to protect and shield those in need.

Health professionals across Minnesota and beyond have paid tribute to Pretti not only as a colleague but as a symbol of what nursing represents: running toward crisis, offering comfort in vulnerability, and standing for human dignity. The Minnesota Organization of Registered Nurses (MNORN) released a statement grieving the loss, calling it a deep cut to the nursing community regardless of political views on the surrounding events. “We have lost a fellow registered nurse to an act of violence connected to immigration enforcement,” they wrote. “The loss of a nurse, a caregiver, a colleague, a human being cuts us deeply.” Similar sentiments came from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents VA workers, describing Pretti’s death as “devastating” and attributing it to broader policy failures.

The tribute video gained renewed attention after Pretti’s fatal encounter. Mac Randolph, son of the veteran Pretti honored, shared the clip online, noting how Pretti had cared for his father in his final moments. “He read my dad’s final salute at the VA after he passed away,” Randolph wrote. “Never wanted to share this video, but his speech is very on point.” The words Pretti spoke—about sacrifice and remembrance—now resonate eerily, as thousands online reflect on the irony of a man who comforted dying veterans becoming a casualty himself amid national turmoil over immigration enforcement.

Pretti’s background reflected a life oriented toward service. Born in Illinois and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, he excelled in sports, sang in the Boy Choir, and earned a biology degree from the University of Minnesota. After working as a research scientist, he returned to school to become a registered nurse, joining the VA in a role that combined his scientific mind with hands-on care. Licensed since 2021, he specialized in intensive care, where high-stakes decisions and emotional weight are daily realities. Friends and family emphasize his love for the outdoors, his devotion to his late dog Joule, and his belief in human rights—qualities that reportedly drew him to witness and document federal actions in his community.

As vigils and memorials formed at the shooting site and outside his home, health workers gathered to honor Pretti’s legacy. Nurses and doctors spoke of how his death has shaken their sense of safety when responding to crises. One physician wrote that Pretti’s story confirmed a growing fear: that providing care in chaotic moments might no longer be protected. Unions like National Nurses United have called ICE a “public health threat” and planned vigils, framing Pretti’s life and death as a call for accountability and change.

The resurfaced tribute clip serves as more than nostalgia; it humanizes a tragedy that has sparked protests, political debate, and demands for investigation. In those final peaceful moments two days before January 24, Pretti embodied the healer he always was—voice steady, words meaningful, focused on gratitude and remembrance. Colleagues sharing it now do so with grief but also pride, insisting his compassion should not be overshadowed by controversy. Alex Pretti’s story, from bedside tributes to a violent end, underscores the profound risks and rewards of a life devoted to caring for others. His final recorded words about freedom and sacrifice linger as a testament to a man who lived them fully.