37-Year-Old Alex Pretti Identified as Man Who Passed Away After Confrontation with Federal Agents in Minneapolis

A man who recently died during the latest federal immigration operation in Minneapolis has been identified. His family has since come forward to speak.

A man was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis. 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

As reported by Associated Press (AP), a federal immigration officer shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24, 2026, during a targeted enforcement action.

Hospital records obtained by the news outlet confirmed the man died from at least one gunshot wound. His age was initially reported as 51, but records later showed he was 37.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed the shooting took place during a federal immigration crackdown.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly said the man was armed with a firearm and two magazines. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described the situation as "evolving," with further details still pending.

The man's identity was not immediately released, but his family later stepped forward.

Who He Was

Family members identified the man as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen who worked as an ICU nurse at the Veterans Administration. He was born in Illinois and, according to court records reviewed by the AP, had no criminal record; only a few minor traffic violations.

His father, Michael Pretti, said his son had been emotionally affected by recent federal immigration actions, including the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a federal officer earlier this month.

"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."

Outside of work and activism, Pretti was an outdoor enthusiast who spent time in nature with his dog, Joule, a Catahoula Leopard dog who had recently passed away.