😢 NEIGHBOR BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS: A heartbroken neighbor of slain ICU nurse Alex Pretti just exposed the REAL truth about his gentle character — crying as she recalled how he cared for his elderly dog that passed away a year or two ago. 💔🐶

“He’d carry his dog down to the yard for fresh air… sit and pet him for long periods… He was very caring, you could tell.” This is the man federal agents kil-led? A kind soul who loved his pet like family, always helping others.

The grief is overwhelming — this detail is shattering hearts everywhere.

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In the wake of the January 24, 2026, fatal shooting of 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol agent, a neighbor has shared a poignant personal recollection that underscores Pretti’s gentle and empathetic character. The neighbor described how Pretti lovingly cared for his aging dog in its final years, carrying the less mobile pet outdoors for fresh air and spending extended time sitting with and petting it — details that have moved many amid widespread mourning.

Pretti was killed near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue during protests against federal immigration enforcement operations. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials maintain the agent acted in self-defense after Pretti, who held a valid concealed carry permit for a 9mm handgun, resisted disarmament and posed a threat.

Multiple bystander videos verified by major outlets including CBS Minnesota (WCCO), The New York Times, BBC, ABC News, and others show Pretti holding a cellphone while filming agents and directing traffic. Footage depicts agents pepper-spraying him, wrestling him to the ground, pinning him face-down with several officers, removing his firearm, and firing at least 10 shots in under five seconds while he remained restrained. Witnesses in sworn affidavits filed in federal court as part of an ACLU lawsuit testified Pretti was not brandishing a weapon or attacking officers and appeared to intervene to help a woman shoved by agents.

In statements to CBS Minnesota station WCCO and other media, a neighbor described Pretti as someone who “would always be willing to help others.” She noted his care for his car and, more emotionally, recalled his devotion to his dog, which passed away around a year or two earlier. “He used to have a dog who passed around a year or two ago, I think,” she said. “I remember how sweet it was that, as his dog was more elderly, less mobile, he’d be willing to carry him down to the yard to get some fresh air and to enjoy the outdoors. His dog would lay down and Alex would sit with him and pet him for long periods of time. He was very caring, you could tell. We are all heartbroken and are praying for his family and friends and for justice for him.”

Other reports, including from the Associated Press and family statements, confirm Pretti was deeply attached to his Catahoula Leopard dog named Joule, whom he took everywhere — on trails, drives, and adventures. Joule’s death about a year prior left Pretti grieving noticeably, with friends and neighbors observing how much he missed his loyal companion. Pretti was described as a dog lover who treated Joule as family, with their bond marked by constant loyalty and gentleness. Some social media tributes and memorials have featured images of Pretti with Joule, and there has been public concern about what happened to any remaining pets, though Pretti reportedly lived alone after Joule’s passing.

Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, have rejected the federal account as “sickening lies,” emphasizing video evidence showing their son with a phone in one hand and an empty raised hand while being sprayed and pinned. They portrayed him as a “kindhearted soul” dedicated to veterans, family, friends, and helping others. The family learned of the shooting from an Associated Press reporter, not authorities.

Pretti worked in the ICU at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, caring for veterans. Colleagues remembered his compassion and professionalism. Dr. Dimitri Drekonja called him capable, friendly, quick with jokes, and always asking, “What can I do to help?” Dr. Aasma Shaukat described him as an “upstanding citizen” with strong civic duty. A viral video showed Pretti delivering a final salute to a deceased veteran patient, reading words about freedom requiring sacrifice.

Pretti grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, active in sports like football, baseball, and track at Preble High School, as well as Boy Scouts and choir. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2011 with a biology degree, worked in research, then pursued nursing, joining the VA in 2014 and becoming an ICU registered nurse in 2021. He was an avid outdoorsman, mountain biker, and cyclist who maintained his car meticulously and loved nature.

This was the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal agents in Minneapolis that month, following Renée Good on January 7, sparking protests, vigils, and criticism from figures like Gov. Tim Walz, Rep. Seth Moulton (who called it “murder” and “cowardly”), and poet Amanda Gorman (who wrote a tribute poem). Nursing organizations demanded transparent investigations.

The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations with FBI support, includes preserved body-worn camera footage not yet public. A federal judge ordered evidence preservation amid lawsuits. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed Pretti’s clean record beyond minor traffic issues.

The neighbor’s emotional account of Pretti’s tenderness toward his elderly dog has resonated widely, illustrating a man defined by quiet care — for patients, community, and animals — rather than confrontation. As grief continues across the nation, these personal details reinforce calls for accountability and clarity in the circumstances of his death.