The man fatally shot by federal immigration agents in south Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, has been publicly identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37‑year‑old Minneapolis resident and United States citizen whose death has intensified public attention and scrutiny over federal enforcement actions in the city. Pretti’s identity was confirmed by multiple law enforcement and public officials after news broke that a federal officer shot him during an immigration enforcement operation near Nicollet Avenue and West 26th Street in the Whittier neighborhood. Pretti was well known in his community as an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, where colleagues and patients remembered him for his compassion and dedication to care. His death marks one of several recent fatal encounters between federal agents and civilians in Minneapolis, an already tense environment due to ongoing nationwide debates over immigration enforcement and public safety. Pretti’s killing immediately sparked outrage among local residents, health care workers, neighbors, and activists — many of whom saw his identity as an ordinary community member rather than a suspected criminal — fueling protests and demands for answers about what occurred.

Pretti’s life and career painted a picture of a dedicated caregiver and active community member. According to family, colleagues, and public records, he earned his nursing degree from the University of Minnesota and had worked as both a research scientist and a registered nurse before his death. He had an active nursing license and was described as someone who cared deeply for his patients — particularly veterans — and was known in his neighborhood as a kind and engaged neighbor. Pretti’s clean record, which reportedly included only minor interactions with law enforcement such as traffic violations, underscored his status as someone with no significant criminal history. Additionally, he was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry in Minnesota, where such permits are issued to qualified adults and open carry is permitted under state law. His family and friends described him as compassionate, community‑oriented, and vocal about social issues, including immigration policies that he viewed as problematic; some accounts say he participated in protests not because he sought confrontation but out of a desire to help others and stand up for what he believed was right.

The circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death have been the subject of starkly contrasting narratives from federal authorities and bystanders. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), when federal agents — specifically U.S. Border Patrol officers — were conducting a targeted immigration enforcement operation, they encountered Pretti, who they say approached with a handgun and resisted attempts to be disarmed. DHS described the shooting as a defensive action taken by agents to protect themselves and others nearby. However, multiple videos circulating online and verified by news outlets show a different sequence of events: Pretti was holding what appears to be a phone, not a firearm, when the altercation began and moved to assist or shield other protesters after a woman was pushed to the ground by a federal agent. Footage then shows agents wrestling him to the ground before several shots are fired at close range. These visuals have fueled public skepticism of the federal narrative, leading local leaders, legal advocates, and many in the public to demand a thorough and independent investigation.

Public outcry following Pretti’s death was swift and widespread. Community members in Minneapolis organized vigils and marches, honoring Pretti’s life and calling for accountability and transparency from federal and local authorities. Hundreds gathered in Whittier Park and at the site of the shooting, laying flowers, holding candles, and sharing memories of Pretti as a caregiver, neighbor, and friend. Meanwhile, city and state officials responded forcefully to the incident: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz demanded that federal immigration agents be withdrawn from the state’s communities, criticizing the operation as an excessive and dangerous federal presence. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also called for an end to “Operation Metro Surge” — the broader enforcement campaign involving thousands of federal agents — while urging residents to remain calm and avoid the area of the shooting. Local law enforcement leaders, including Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, pressed for cooperation and insisted that federal agencies operate with restraint, humanity, and integrity.

In tandem with public protest and political pressure, legal responses began unfolding rapidly. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) filed lawsuits and motions seeking to preserve evidence related to Pretti’s shooting, alleging that federal agents were refusing access to crucial forensic material despite warrants and judicial orders. A federal judge later granted a temporary restraining order requiring the Department of Homeland Security to maintain all evidence connected to the case ahead of further legal proceedings. These developments illustrate the jurisdictional friction between local and state investigative authorities and federal law enforcement — a dispute heightened by accusations that federal agents blocked local investigators at the scene. Such legal contention reflects broader questions about how multi‑agency law enforcement actions should be conducted, especially when they involve civilian deaths. Meanwhile, protest activity continued in Minneapolis and spread to other cities, with calls for federal oversight, independent review boards, and improved accountability when force is used by immigration agents.

The death of Alex Pretti has not only intensified local debate in Minneapolis, it has also drawn national attention to the ways in which federal immigration enforcement is conducted in U.S. cities. Pretti’s identification as an ICU nurse and longtime resident with no significant criminal record transformed the incident from an abstract political dispute into a deeply personal and contentious issue for many residents and observers. Critics argue that federal enforcement operations, especially those involving heavily armed agents in civilian neighborhoods, risk unnecessary escalation and undermine trust in law enforcement across communities. Advocates for stronger oversight have called for clearer rules governing when and how federal agents can operate domestically, particularly in environments already fraught with tension. On the other side of the debate, defenders of the agency argue that officers must be able to protect themselves and others when faced with perceived threats, citing the presence of a firearm during the incident as justification for their actions. Regardless of the legal and political outcomes yet to unfold, Pretti’s death has become a flashpoint in ongoing national conversations about immigration policy, federal authority, civil liberties, and the appropriate use of force. The tragedy underscores the complexities and emotional weight involved when enforcement operations intersect with everyday lives and communities, raising questions that are likely to shape public discourse and policy for months — and possibly years — to come.