A 37-year-old ICU nurse is dead after federal immigration agents opened fire during a major enforcement operation in Minneapolis, setting off days of unrest and a bitter political fight over what really happened on the street.

Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, during Operation Metro Surge, a large immigration enforcement effort that deployed thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents in the city. Federal officials say officers feared for their lives, but video circulating online shows a different sequence of events.

As protests spread and national figures rushed to stake out positions, the killing has become one of the most explosive flashpoints of the Trump administration’s immigration strategy.

Pretti had taken part in protests following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by federal immigration agents earlier in January, joining others in Minneapolis who opposed the enforcement surge. Weeks after demonstrating for Good, he found himself in the same deadly situation.

What federal agents say happened on the ground

The Department of Homeland Security says Pretti approached Border Patrol officers while carrying a 9mm handgun and two magazines during an active immigration operation. According to DHS, agents attempted to disarm him and fired after he resisted.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the shooting, stating that an agent fired defensive shots out of fear for his own safety and that of nearby officers. Federal officials have declined to identify the agents involved or confirm whether body camera footage exists.

Federal officials excluded local authorities from the initial investigation, drawing criticism from city leaders and civil rights groups. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara urged calm as crowds gathered near the scene and federal officers deployed flash bangs and batons to clear the area.

Video footage and family statements challenge the official account

Stabilized video of the shooting spread online within hours and immediately challenged the federal account. The footage appears to show one agent removing a handgun from Alex Pretti’s holster while he is on his knees. Seconds later, another agent fires several shots into his back.

Witnesses say Pretti stepped in to protect a woman after agents pepper-sprayed her, then sprayed him as well. Videos show multiple agents forcing him to the ground as he appeared disoriented and blinded. In one clip, Pretti can be heard shouting as an agent removes his weapon and a magazine drops to the pavement. The agent turns away holding the gun, and shots ring out almost immediately.

Additional footage shows Pretti collapsing, unarmed, before another agent fires more rounds as officers step back. Critics of the shooting argue the videos show no imminent threat at the moment shots were fired and describe the sequence as indistinguishable from an execution rather than a defensive response.

Pretti’s parents said their son spent his career caring for critically ill veterans and died trying to protect someone else. They rejected claims that he posed a danger, saying the videos show his hands empty and his body subdued when agents opened fire.

Statement released by Michael and Susan Pretti describing their son Alex Pretti and disputing DHS claims.
Family of Alex Pretti rejects DHS account and says their son was unarmed while trying to protect a woman.

The clash between official statements and visual evidence has driven distrust, especially as no independent federal findings have yet been released.

Protests erupt as politicians battle over blame and power

The shooting ignited protests across Minneapolis that escalated into nights of unrest. A self-organized protest zone briefly formed, and Minnesota officials requested National Guard support as tensions grew. The NBA postponed a Timberwolves game as security concerns mounted.

National figures quickly entered the fray. Senator JD Vance blamed the chaos on far-left agitators working with local authorities, shifting focus away from the actions of federal agents. Attorney General Pam Bondi demanded a federal response as lawmakers called for congressional hearings.

The killing came just weeks after another ICE-related fatal shooting in Minneapolis, deepening fears that aggressive enforcement tactics are colliding with civilian life. Critics say the pattern shows a system that closes ranks quickly while families wait for answers.

As investigators face mounting pressure to release evidence and identify those involved, the death of Alex Pretti has become a defining test of transparency, accountability, and the limits of federal power on American streets.

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