🚨 TRAGEDY THAT SHOOK A NATION: He saved lives every day as an ICU nurse treating veterans – but Alex Pretti, 37, was shot dead by federal agents during a Minneapolis immigration raid… witnesses say he was just holding his phone, not a weapon! 😢🔫

In the chaos of protests against aggressive enforcement ops, this dedicated VA hero stepped in to help a neighbor – only to be wrestled down, pepper-sprayed, pinned, and fatally shot multiple times by Border Patrol and CBP officers. Videos show the struggle: phone in hand, no gun drawn until agents removed his licensed firearm from his waistband… yet he ended up on the ground, unarmed, when the bullets flew.

Now his family demands answers, thousands march in his honor, a DOJ civil rights probe is underway, and even bipartisan lawmakers call for…

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse who treated veterans at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, was shot and killed by two federal immigration agents on January 24, 2026, during a confrontation on Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis that has ignited widespread protests, bipartisan calls for investigation, and national debate over enforcement tactics.

Pretti, a resident of the Lyndale neighborhood, died from multiple gunshot wounds ruled a homicide by the Hennepin County medical examiner. The incident occurred amid Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration crackdown deploying Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Border Patrol personnel across the city, which had already seen other fatal shootings involving federal agents earlier in the month.

According to witness accounts, bystander videos analyzed by multiple outlets, and preliminary reports, Pretti was recording federal agents with his cellphone when the encounter escalated. Videos show agents pepper-spraying and wrestling him to the ground alongside others during a protest or observation near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier area. Multiple officers – around six – surrounded him as he was pinned. One agent removed a licensed 9mm handgun from Pretti’s waistband before two officers opened fire, discharging approximately 10 rounds in under five seconds, per forensic audio analysis.

ProPublica identified the shooters as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and CBP officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, both assigned to the operation. Both were placed on administrative leave following the incident. DHS and CBP initially described Pretti as resisting arrest, with an agent yelling “He’s got a gun!” during the struggle. A preliminary internal CBP review sent to Congress noted resistance but made no mention of Pretti attacking or threatening officers with a weapon. Videos appear to show him holding only a phone in one hand, with no visible brandishing of the firearm until it was seized.

Pretti’s family condemned what they called “disgusting lies” about their loved one, describing him as a devoted caregiver who “touched more lives than he probably ever realized.” His sister, Micayla Pretti, highlighted his service to veterans and love of outdoors activities like mountain biking. Colleagues and union members from National Nurses United mourned him as a compassionate professional rooted in care and community.

The shooting marked the second fatal incident involving federal agents in Minneapolis that month, following the death of Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, on January 7. Protests erupted immediately, with hundreds marching to honor Pretti and demand accountability. Memorials formed at the scene, featuring flowers, candles, and tributes to his nursing career.

A Department of Justice civil rights investigation was launched into the shooting, while Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension accused the FBI of blocking access to case files and evidence – a move BCA Superintendent Drew Evans called “concerning and unprecedented.” The FBI has not publicly responded. Bipartisan lawmakers, including some Republicans, have pressed for deeper probes, with calls for transparency amid conflicting narratives between official statements and video evidence.

Videos from bystanders and prior encounters – including one 11 days earlier showing Pretti being tackled by agents – have fueled scrutiny. CNN analysis indicated aggressive actions by officers escalated the situation, with repeated strikes and pepper spray before the shooting. The New York Times synchronized footage to establish a timeline showing Pretti filming agents before the physical altercation.

Jimmy Kimmel addressed the killing on his January 26 “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” monologue, visibly emotional as he condemned the “vile and heartless” actions and fought back tears. “To the people of Minneapolis, to the Pretti family and the Good family, these people who were looking out for their neighbors, we want you to know that we are with you and you are not alone,” he said, drawing applause. Kimmel highlighted Pretti’s patriotism as a VA nurse treating veterans and urged reflection on enforcement tactics.

The case has sparked broader discussions on use of force by federal immigration officers, cellphone documentation of encounters, and the risks of large-scale operations in urban areas. DHS officials defended the surge as necessary for enforcement, while critics, including immigrant advocacy groups like Global Refuge, called Pretti’s death a “senseless tragedy” that should never have occurred.

Pretti held an active nursing license and was known for his dedication at the Minneapolis VA hospital. His death has prompted vigils, including candlelight events by nurses, and renewed focus on protecting those who document law enforcement actions.

As investigations continue – including DOJ civil rights review and ongoing state efforts – Pretti’s family seeks truth amid grief. Protests persist, with calls for reform and justice echoing nationwide. The incident underscores tensions in immigration policy implementation, where a man who spent his career saving lives became a symbol in a national reckoning over accountability and compassion.