
A dedicated ICU nurse with a legal gun permit lay dead in sub-zero Minneapolis streets, shot 10 times by federal agents who claim he charged with a handgun—yet video captures only a phone in his grip.
Story Snapshot
- U.S. citizen Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, killed January 24, 2026, during anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis.
- Border Patrol agents fired 10 shots in five seconds after wrestling him down; DHS alleges armed approach.
- Video disputes gun claim, showing Pretti filming and directing traffic.
- Third federal shooting in Minneapolis in 17 days amid Trump-era immigration crackdowns.
- Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus decries death of lawful permit holder.
Sequence of the Fatal Encounter
ICE agents targeted a restaurant at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue around 9:05 a.m. CST on January 24, 2026. Alex Jeffrey Pretti filmed their entry attempt while directing traffic for anti-ICE protesters in 10 degrees below zero cold. Six agents pepper-sprayed him, wrestled him to the sidewalk, and one struck him before firing 10 shots in five seconds. Agents then performed chest compressions. Paramedics rushed Pretti to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Pretti’s Background as Nurse and Protester
Alex Jeffrey Pretti grew up in Illinois, graduating Preble High School in 2006. He worked as an ICU nurse at a VA hospital, earning praise as caring and empathetic. An outdoorsman with no criminal record beyond traffic tickets, Pretti held a legal concealed carry permit for his 9mm handgun. He joined protests after ICE killed Renee Good earlier in January 2026, driven by concern for deportation targets. His family learned of his death through media reports and confirmed his identity via AP video.
Federal Claims Versus Video Evidence
DHS reported Pretti approached agents with a semiautomatic handgun, recovered with two magazines but no ID. Officials cited protester assaults, including one biting off an HSI agent’s finger. Video analysis by The New York Times shows Pretti holding a phone, not advancing aggressively. Witnesses describe him aiding traffic peacefully before agents tackled him. No full video confirms brandishing, and family statements do not address habitual carry. Contradictions persist without independent autopsy.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem briefed on the armed approach and assaults. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called ICE agents patriots saving the country, prioritizing them over Minnesota leadership. These defenses align with enforcing immigration laws amid a surge in operations, resonating with common-sense support for border security over local resistance.
Who is Alex Jeffrey Pretti, the anti-ICE protester fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis? https://t.co/lZKHSOt5bZ pic.twitter.com/uRqvG3ltZy
— New York Post (@nypost) January 24, 2026
Local Resistance and Escalating Tensions
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara rejected ICE’s order to dismiss local officers. Mayor Jacob Frey requested National Guard deployment from Governor Tim Walz. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension held a warrant but agents blocked scene access. Protests blocked intersections post-shooting; witnesses faced detention at a federal building. Restaurants provided coffee to demonstrators, fostering community solidarity against perceived federal overreach.
Broader Ramifications for Gun Rights and Enforcement
This marks the third federal shooting in Minneapolis within 17 days, signaling clashes during immigration crackdowns. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus voiced deep concern over a lawful permit holder’s fatal shooting. VA healthcare loses a skilled ICU nurse; gun owners question carry risks at protests. Short-term protests demand accountability; long-term fallout strains federal-local ties and fuels national immigration debates. Partisan divides sharpen, with federal backers viewing agents as defenders against rioters.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Alex_Pretti


