Political Leaders React After ICU Nurse Alex Pretti Loses His Life During a Border Patrol Confrontation in Minneapolis

A federal Border Patrol confrontation in Minneapolis killed an ICU nurse, drawing swift and opposing reactions from political leaders and concern from his family.

The fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti during a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in Minneapolis quickly drew responses from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and US President Donald Trump.

As debate intensified, the nurse's family shared their perspective and challenged details released by officials.

The Governor's Statement

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz publicly condemned the federal raid that resulted in Alex's death. In a video posted on X, he said:

"This federal occupation of Minnesota, long ago, stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. It's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of our state. And today, that campaign claimed another life."

Walz said he had reviewed video footage of the shooting from multiple angles and called it "sickening." He made clear that federal authorities would not lead the investigation. He emphasized:

"Minnesota's justice system will have the last word on this. It must have the last word. As I told the White House in no uncertain terms this morning, the federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. The state will handle it. Period."

Mayor Condemns Federal Action

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke out following Pretti's death, criticizing the conduct of federal immigration agents. In a video posted on X, he described the agents' actions as excessive and held them responsible for the fatal outcome.

He framed the incident as part of a larger, dangerous pattern tied to federal enforcement operations in the city. Frey added:

"The invasion of these heavily armed, masked agents roaming around on our streets of Minneapolis, emboldened with a sense of impunity, it has to end. This is not how it has to be."

Frey also called on Trump to withdraw ICE from Minneapolis, arguing that the presence of armed federal agents posed a threat to public safety. He questioned how many more people would be harmed before the operations were halted.

In addition, Frey reaffirmed that ICE agents are prohibited from using city-owned property for immigration-related activities.

He also announced that he had requested National Guard support to assist Minneapolis police, citing a growing strain on local resources.

The President's Response

President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social by defending the federal agents involved. He posted a photo of what he said was the suspect's firearm. His statement read:

"What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off?"

In the same Truth Social post, Trump shifted focus to allegations of financial wrongdoing in Minnesota. He made sweeping claims about theft and criminal accountability, likening the situation to a major heist. "This is no different than a really big Bank Robbery," he added.

He then framed the public response to the shooting as an intentional distraction, suggesting state leaders were using it to hide deeper issues: "Much of what you're witnessing is a COVER UP for this Theft and Fraud."

Trump concluded with a personal attack on state leadership: "The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric!"

Family Statement

Alex Pretti's parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, released a public statement following his death. As reported by KARE 11, they described their son as a caring person who dedicated his life to helping others. Their statement read:

"We are heartbroken but also very angry. Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world."

In the same statement, the couple disputed claims that Alex had posed a threat during the incident.

They alleged he was unarmed, holding a phone, and attempting to shield a woman who had been pushed down. They also criticized public statements made by the administration, calling them false and offensive.

The Prettis expressed grief that Alex would not be here to see the difference he made and called him a "hero," noting that they don't use the word lightly. They added, "However his last thought and act was to protect a woman."

In an interview with the Associated Press (AP), the couple said they had recently urged Alex to be careful while protesting.

"We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically," Michael said. "And he said he knows that. He knew that."

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Alex was shot after he "approached" Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm handgun. DHS did not say whether he brandished the weapon.

Bystander videos show Alex holding a phone, but no firearm is visible in the available clips. The family confirmed that he legally owned a handgun and had a permit to carry in Minnesota, but said they had never known him to carry it in public.

As the political responses unfolded, reporting shifted back to the facts of the shooting and the life of the man who was killed.

As previously reported, a man was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24. 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. With the man's identity confirmed by family, attention has shifted 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.

At the time, Walz confirmed the shooting occurred during a broader federal immigration crackdown.

According to 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

Pretti was later 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 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, Alex 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, Alex 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, Alex cared deeply about the environment. According to his mother, Susan, 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, 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," Michael said. "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, Alex had a history of political engagement.

Protest History

According to his ex-wife via AP, Alex 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, Alex 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 Alex 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.

The shooting has prompted national attention, with ongoing investigations and strong reactions from public officials and the community. Key facts remain under review.