🚨 BOMBSHELL FROM ALEX PRETTI’S OLD FRIENDS: The “Kind-Hearted, Gentle Nurse” Everyone’s Defending? They Say He BUILT That Image on Purpose – For YEARS – To Fool Us All! 😱🔥

They’re coming forward now: Longtime acquaintances exposing how Pretti crafted a wholesome, heroic persona… while hiding a COMPLETELY different side that’s anything but black-and-white.

Drag performances? Dramatic flair? Attention-seeking drama behind the scenes? Friends claim the “gentle soul” who saved veterans was a calculated mask to win sympathy and deflect scrutiny.

Was the public grief manipulated? Or are these just desperate smears to bury the truth about his shoo-ting? The revelations are exploding online – and they change how you see EVERYTHING.

You thought you knew the hero nurse… think again. Watch this unfold before the narrative flips AGAIN. Share if you’re tired of the lies and want the REAL story! 💔

As the investigation into the January 24, 2026, fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti by U.S. Border Patrol agents continues, a new wave of online claims has emerged from individuals purporting to be his “old friends” alleging that Pretti deliberately cultivated a “kind-hearted, gentle” public image over many years to mask a more complex or flamboyant private life. These assertions, primarily circulating on social media and low-traffic blogs, contrast sharply with consistent descriptions from family, close colleagues, and verified acquaintances who have portrayed Pretti as genuinely compassionate and dedicated.

Pretti was killed near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue during protests against federal immigration enforcement operations. The Department of Homeland Security maintains that agents fired in self-defense after Pretti, armed with a 9mm handgun and extra magazines, resisted disarmament. Bystander videos reviewed by outlets including Reuters, The New York Times, BBC, and Bellingcat show Pretti holding a cellphone in his right hand, with his left hand raised or used protectively, before being tackled and shot at least 10 times—some rounds fired after he was down. No footage depicts him brandishing the weapon, and an agent appears to retrieve it from his waist during the struggle.

In the days following his death, Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, described him in a statement as a “kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family, friends, and the American veterans” he treated at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. They condemned federal characterizations—including White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller calling him a “domestic terrorist” and attempts to “assassinate” agents—as “sickening lies” and “reprehensible.” The family urged the public to focus on video evidence showing Pretti unarmed and attempting to shield a woman from pepper spray.

Multiple friends and colleagues have echoed this view. Heather Zielinski, a friend of over 10 years, told NPR she recognized Pretti in shooting footage and felt her “heart sank,” emphasizing his calm demeanor in crises. Jeanne Wiener, a neighbor of five years, called him a “gentle, good person” who “would never, ever attack a police officer.” Robert Alver, a University of Minnesota acquaintance from 2009, said there was “no way on God’s green Earth” Pretti would harm anyone, describing him as helpful and ideal as a colleague and friend. Dr. Aasma Shaukat, a former VA colleague, remembered him as “kindhearted, very, very helpful and a very, very upstanding citizen.” High school friend Chris Di Salvi told FOX 11 Pretti “made life better for others” and was “always a good person.” A childhood friend writing in The Verge recalled him as a best friend whose actions aligned with protecting the vulnerable.

These accounts align with Pretti’s professional record: licensed since 2021, no disciplinary issues, and praised for empathy, humor, and an “infectious spirit” by VA physician Dr. Dimitri Drekonja. Nursing organizations expressed shock at his death, highlighting concerns over violence against healthcare workers.

However, viral social media posts and articles on sites like buzzreport247 have claimed “old friends” are “speaking out” to expose Pretti’s “kind-hearted, gentle” image as deliberately built to “fool so many.” Some allege involvement in drag performances, theatrical lifestyles, eccentric fashion, and attention-seeking behavior that clashed with his professional persona. One widely shared post suggested he used nursing heroics and outdoor posts (hiking with his dog) for “likes and pity points” while indulging in “dramatic” private pursuits. These claims often include unverified quotes or anonymous sources, with some tying into debunked narratives about job loss or mysterious groups.

Fact-checkers and mainstream reporting have found no credible evidence supporting these “exposés.” No named friends or verified interviews have emerged corroborating the allegations of a fabricated persona or hidden flamboyant side. Similar misinformation campaigns—such as false claims Pretti quit his job, joined radical groups, or had misconduct issues—have been traced to spam networks and AI-generated content, often originating from overseas sources. Photos purporting to show Pretti in drag have been identified as depicting unrelated individuals. Pretti’s concealed carry permit was valid, and he had no criminal record beyond minor traffic matters.

The timing of these claims has raised suspicions among Pretti’s supporters, who view them as attempts to discredit him and justify the shooting amid polarized reactions. Conservative voices, including some X users and commentators like Ian Miles Cheong and Joey Mannarino, have amplified narratives questioning Pretti’s innocence, citing his armed status and alleged prior scuffle (unverified reports of a broken rib from an earlier encounter). Others defend the agents, arguing law enforcement actions were warranted in chaotic protest settings.

Federal officials, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, have referenced body camera footage under review by Homeland Security Investigations with FBI assistance, though no public release has occurred. President Trump announced reviews and dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the shooting “sickening,” criticized DHS accounts as inconsistent with videos, and pushed for independent state involvement. Protests, vigils, and memorials continue, with nursing unions and civil rights groups demanding transparency.

Pretti grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin—active in sports, Boy Scouts, and choir—graduated from the University of Minnesota with a biology degree, worked in research, then transitioned to nursing. He was remembered as an avid outdoorsman, dog owner, and veteran advocate.

The emergence of unverified “friend exposés” adds complexity to an already contentious case, where video evidence, official accounts, and personal testimonies remain at odds. Supporters argue the claims are smears designed to erode sympathy; skeptics see them as revealing nuance in Pretti’s life. Until investigators release more evidence—including full bodycam footage—and independent probes conclude, the debate over Pretti’s character and the shooting’s circumstances is likely to intensify amid broader national divisions on immigration enforcement, use of force, and misinformation.