Family of Alex Pretti Makes Statement After the Tragedy in Minneapolis

After a fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis, a grieving family issued a public plea for the truth, drawing support from celebrities and national leaders alike.

Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal immigration enforcement in South Minneapolis. Now, the shocking shooting has plunged his family and the city into mourning and outrage.

Grieving Parents Reject Official Account

Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, later issued a public statement in response to the shooting. They challenged the version of events shared by government officials and described their son as a kindhearted man who was devoted to his family, friends, and the veterans he cared for.

“Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact,” they wrote. “I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.”

They emphasized that their son had no criminal history, supported by court records, and had only ever encountered law enforcement over minor traffic tickets.

State Officials Push Back on Terror Label

After Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem publicly labeled Pretti a domestic terror threat, Minnesota officials condemned the claim as “nonsense” and “lies.” The Pretti family called the administration’s narrative “reprehensible and disgusting.”

Their statement included a detailed description of the shooting that sharply contradicts the official version. “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs,” they added.

According to them, video from the encounter shows Pretti holding his phone in his right hand while his left hand, empty, was raised above his head as he tried to shield a woman whom ICE agents had just pushed down, even as he was being pepper-sprayed.

Only after laying out their version of events did the parents include the final line of their statement — a direct plea. “Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you,” they concluded.

Celebrities Amplify the Family’s Words

Their words have since circulated widely on social media, drawing reactions from public figures and celebrities. Actress Jennifer Aniston reshared the statement on her Instagram Story. NBA player Tyrese Haliburton also weighed in, writing, “Alex Pretti was murdered.”

Actress Cynthia Nixon read the full statement aloud in a video, calling it a response to the “morally reprehensible, disgusting lies” being circulated about Pretti.

The Obamas Condemn Federal Tactics

Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama issued a joint statement, calling the shooting “a heartbreaking tragedy.”

“Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job,” the statement read. “But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety. That’s not what we’re seeing in Minnesota. In fact, we’re seeing the opposite.”

They denounced what they called “unprecedented tactics” used by federal agents, including ICE, in recent weeks. The Obamas further accused the administration of escalating tensions without conducting serious investigations.

“And yet rather than trying to impose some semblance of discipline and accountability over the agents they’ve deployed,” they stated, “the President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations […] that aren’t informed by any serious investigation and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence.”

They closed with support for peaceful protests, stating that it is up to citizens to “speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable.”

Identity Confirmed in Earlier Report

As we had previously reported, Pretti was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Officials say he was armed at the time.

The incident occurred amid a wider federal crackdown and just weeks after another fatal encounter drew protests in the city. Now, with the man’s identity confirmed by family, attention is shifting to who he was and why he was there.

What Happened

A man was fatally shot by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis during a targeted enforcement operation on Nicollet Avenue, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Hospital records confirmed that he died from at least one gunshot wound. His age was first reported as 51, but updated records later identified him as 37.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed the shooting occurred during a broader federal immigration crackdown.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the man was armed with a firearm and two magazines. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called it an “evolving” situation, adding that more details are still under review.

A bystander video obtained by AP offered more context.

In the footage, people blew whistles and shouted at agents. One officer pushed a person wearing a brown jacket, a green skirt, and black tights, who carried a water bottle. That individual reached toward a nearby man, and the two briefly embraced.

The man, dressed in a dark brown jacket and black hat, appeared to raise a phone toward the officer. The officer then shoved him in the chest, and both individuals fell backward.

The video briefly cut away, then returned to show them separating. Moments later, three officers surrounded the man, and the number quickly grew to at least seven.

One officer knelt on the man’s back. Another, holding what appeared to be a canister, struck him in the chest. As they tried to restrain him, the man appeared to resist. His face became visible on camera before the officer struck him near the head several more times.

A gunshot followed, though the video did not clearly show its source. More shots rang out. Officers stepped back, and the man remained motionless on the pavement.

The man’s identity was not immediately released, but those who knew him later stepped forward.

Who He Was

Alex Jeffrey Pretti was identified by family members and a colleague as the man who was fatally shot during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.

He was a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and worked as an intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. He was born in Illinois and, according to court records reviewed by the AP, had no criminal record; only a few minor traffic violations.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Pretti studied nursing at the University of Minnesota, where he also began working as a junior scientist in 2012 at the university’s medical school.

State records from the Minnesota Board of Nursing confirmed that he received his Registered Nurse (RN) license on January 19, 2021. The license was active at the time of his death and was set to expire in March 2026.

At the VA hospital, Pretti was known as a dedicated and compassionate caregiver. Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, chief of infectious diseases and a professor at the University of Minnesota, worked alongside him.

“He wanted to help people,” Drekonja said. “He was a super nice, super helpful guy. Looked after his patients. I’m just stunned.”He described Pretti as an “outstanding” nurse who was hardworking, quick with a joke, and brought an “infectious” spirit to the workplace.

Outside of medicine, Pretti cared deeply about the environment. According to his mother, Susan Pretti, he was especially upset by federal rollbacks of environmental protections.

“He hated that, you know, people were just trashing the land,” she said. The mom added that Pretti loved the country but was increasingly troubled by what he believed was happening to it.

She said her son loved being outdoors and often brought his dog Joule, a Catahoula Leopard dog who had recently passed away, everywhere he went.

Pretti’s father, Michael Pretti, said his son had been emotionally affected by recent federal immigration actions, including the earlier fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good.

“He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset,” said Pretti’s dad. “He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others.”

In addition to his concerns about immigration and the environment, Pretti had a history of political engagement.

Protest History

According to his ex-wife via AP, Pretti had been politically active and participated in past protests. She was not surprised he may have joined demonstrations against Trump’s immigration policies.

She asked not to be named and said they had not spoken in more than two years, since their divorce. After that, she moved to another state.

According to her, Pretti was a Democratic voter who took part in street protests following the 2020 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, not far from where the couple lived at the time.

The ex-wife said he might raise his voice at police during demonstrations, but she had never known him to be physically confrontational.

She also recalled that he obtained a permit to carry a concealed firearm about three years ago and owned at least one semiautomatic handgun when they separated.