🚨 BREAKING: The family of heroic ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti just dropped a BOMBSHELL — authorities allegedly CALLED THEM with a furious warning and UNIMAGINABLE THREATS… BEFORE they even knew their son had been SHOT DE-AD by federal agents. 😱

What kind of chilling message gets delivered to grieving parents hours before the news hits? Was this a cover-up? Intimidation? Or something far darker unfolding in Minneapolis amid the immigration raids?

Full story here:

The fatal shooting of 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol agent on January 24, 2026, has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement operations in the city, with his family publicly challenging official narratives and calling for transparency.

Pretti, who worked at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System caring for veterans, was killed shortly before 9 a.m. near the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood. The incident unfolded amid ongoing protests against aggressive federal tactics targeting immigration violations, which have included multiple enforcement actions and at least two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens in recent weeks.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Border Patrol agents were conducting an operation when Pretti approached them. Officials stated that the agent fired in self-defense after Pretti violently resisted efforts to disarm him while in possession of a handgun. Pretti held a valid Minnesota permit to carry a concealed weapon, family members and local police confirmed.

However, multiple videos captured by bystanders and analyzed by news organizations — including NBC News, The Guardian, and BBC Verify — present a different sequence. Footage shows Pretti holding a phone, apparently filming or directing traffic, with no visible firearm. Agents appear to spray him with a chemical irritant, wrestle him to the ground, pin him, and then fire multiple shots at close range. Witnesses, including two who provided sworn affidavits in federal court as part of an ACLU lawsuit against DHS officials, testified that Pretti was not brandishing a weapon and may have been attempting to assist a woman who had been shoved by agents.

Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, released a statement expressing profound grief and anger. “We are heartbroken but also very angry,” they said. “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. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact.”

The family disputed the federal version, labeling it “sickening lies” and asserting that video evidence clearly shows their son was not holding a gun in the moments leading up to the shooting. They noted Pretti’s recent involvement in protests, motivated by concern over immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis, including the January 7 fatal shooting of Renée Good by a federal agent.

Regarding notification, the family reported learning of the incident first from an Associated Press reporter rather than authorities. They described difficulties in obtaining confirmation and said no federal law enforcement agency had contacted them directly as of the evening of January 24. No public accounts have detailed any prior warning or threatening communication from officials to the family before news of the shooting emerged.

Pretti grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was active in sports, Boy Scouts, and choir. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2011 with a degree in biology, society, and the environment, initially working as a research scientist before pursuing nursing. He joined the Minneapolis VA in 2014 as a research assistant and became a registered nurse in 2021, specializing in intensive care.

Colleagues remembered him fondly. Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, who worked with Pretti for years, described him as capable, competent, friendly, and quick with a joke — someone who “put people at ease” and always asked, “What can I do to help?” Aasma Shaukat, another former colleague, called him an “upstanding citizen” who stood for human rights and helped others in small and large ways. Patients’ families echoed this: one relative posted about Pretti providing compassionate end-of-life care, including a final salute to a veteran.

Nursing organizations responded swiftly. The American Nurses Association called for a “full, unencumbered investigation” with prompt public release of findings. The American Federation of Government Employees’ Professional Local 3669, representing VA professionals, mourned the loss of a member and criticized policies leading to such tragedies. National Nurses United labeled ICE a “public health threat” and urged its abolition.

The shooting sparked immediate protests and renewed calls from Minnesota officials — including Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar — to halt or review federal operations. Local police Chief Brian O’Hara noted Pretti’s lawful gun ownership but emphasized the need for independent review. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty requested local involvement in securing the scene and investigating alongside the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

President Donald Trump, asked about the incident, said his administration was “reviewing everything” and would determine next steps, adding he did not like any shooting. DHS officials, including Secretary Kristi Noem, defended the agent’s actions as necessary to protect lives amid resistance.

This marks the third reported shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in three weeks, heightening tensions in a city with a history of unrest over policing and federal overreach. As body camera footage and further investigations proceed, the case underscores deep divisions over immigration policy, protest rights, and use of force by federal authorities.

Pretti’s death has left a void in the VA community and beyond. Friends and neighbors described a quiet, helpful man who loved the outdoors, mountain biking, and serving others — a “force of good” whose life ended in circumstances still under dispute. Calls for accountability continue as the investigation unfolds.