37-Year-Old Man Shot by Federal Agents Was an ICU Nurse – Inside the Fatal Day

The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in broad daylight has sparked national outrage, with bystander video contradicting official claims and the victim’s family demanding answers.

A 37-year-old nurse is dead, gunned down by federal agents on a busy Minneapolis street as stunned bystanders captured every heart-stopping moment. But as disturbing new footage emerges, questions are mounting about what really happened in those final, chaotic seconds… and whether Alex Pretti ever posed a threat at all.

Officers Claim Danger, but Videos Tell a Different Story

The scene was fast, frantic, and tragic. Pretti, a dedicated ICU nurse, ended up face down on the sidewalk, lifeless, riddled with bullets. This was after at least ten shots were fired by federal immigration officers.

Federal agents say Pretti was armed, citing a retrieved handgun they claimed he had on him. In a bystander video reviewed by CNN, one officer appears to reach into Pretti's waistband and emerge holding what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims was the weapon. Just seconds later, the air erupts with gunfire.

But there's a chilling contradiction: Pretti is never seen holding the gun. In fact, the only item in his hand during the scuffle appears to be a cellphone, according to an eyewitness.

And what's more disturbing? Moments after the shooting, a voice is heard asking, "Where's the gun?" The agent replies, "I got the gun" — raising fresh doubts about whether anyone knew it had already been secured before shots were fired.

'This Does Not Look Like a Justified Shooting'

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'’Hara has confirmed Pretti legally owned a firearm and had a permit to carry — facts that don't necessarily point to guilt. And law enforcement experts are sounding the alarm.

"This does not look like a justified shooting," said former police commissioner Charles Ramsey, who reviewed the tapes as a CNN analyst. "The guy is prone on the sidewalk… and they're still firing rounds into him."

Federal officials, however, are standing firm. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said, "The officers attempted to disarm the suspect, but the armed suspect violently resisted… Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots."

But Pretti's body lay still, motionless in the street — and the family says they were never even informed by law enforcement of his death.

Family Left Devastated and Angry

Pretti wasn't just a name; he was a son, a brother, a nurse who spent his days treating veterans at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Born in Illinois and a U.S. citizen, he had no criminal record beyond a few traffic tickets.

His father, Michael Pretti, painted a picture of a man driven by compassion. "He cared about people deeply," he said. "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."

According to the family, Pretti had peacefully protested the killing of Renee Good, a woman fatally shot by an immigration officer weeks earlier. His father recalled a recent talk he had with him, saying, "Go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid… And he said he knows that. He knew that."

In his downtime, Pretti loved the outdoors and shared a strong bond with his beloved dog Joule, who had recently passed away.

Family Slams DHS and Trump

The grief was made even more unbearable by how the family learned of Pretti's death — from a journalist, not the government. After being contacted by an Associated Press reporter, the Prettis were shown video footage of their son lying on the ground.

They reached out to authorities but got silence and a runaround. "I can't get any information from anybody," his father said. Eventually, it was the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office that confirmed the heartbreaking truth.

But nothing could prepare them for what came next: claims from DHS and President Donald Trump painting Alex as a domestic terrorist intent on harming officers.

"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting," the family said in a blistering statement. They insist the videos speak for themselves: Alex was shielding a woman from pepper spray, not attacking agents. "Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man."

Seconds Before the Shots – What the Video Really Shows

Footage from the scene paints a picture of escalating chaos rather than criminal intent. Just two minutes before the shooting, agents were seen detaining someone on the street. Amid blaring horns and shouting, Pretti appeared — holding a phone and helping direct traffic. He reportedly shouted at one agent, telling him not to push people into the traffic!

The officer then shoved a woman to the ground. Pretti stepped between them. That's when the officer deployed chemical spray, hitting Pretti in the face. Coughing and on his knees, Pretti reached toward the woman's backpack, possibly trying to get water.

Seconds later, at least six agents swarmed him. One agent struck him repeatedly, and another, in a gray jacket, reached in and retrieved what DHS says was a gun. He walked away, and one second later, the bullets flew.

Experts Say DHS Is Out of Control

In the aftermath, DHS officials released an image of the recovered gun and claimed it was loaded with two full magazines, suggesting a plan for mass violence — a claim made without evidence.

"This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement," said DHS spokesperson McLaughlin. But again, no evidence backs that claim — and critics are furious.

Charles Ramsey called the shooting "unjustified" and blasted DHS leaders for jumping to conclusions. "Once you have leaders come out and pretty much clear the officer, you cannot expect an objective investigation," he said. "DHS leadership is out of control."

Trump Weighs In

President Trump quickly turned the tragedy into a political firestorm. In a social media post, Trump characterized Pretti as the gunman and claimed that Minneapolis officials had blocked local police from assisting ICE agents.

Trump also wrote that the weapon recovered at the scene was the gun Pretti had been carrying. He then questioned why local police had not been allowed to protect the federal officers, suggesting that the mayor and governor had called them off.

He went on to accuse state and local leaders of failing to provide support to the agents. He argued that the incident highlighted a broader failure by local officials to back federal law enforcement.

Trump then framed the situation as part of larger issues with immigration, welfare fraud, and Democratic leadership, and he urged continued support for federal immigration enforcement.

Subsequently, he expressed that the administration was reviewing all aspects of the incident and criticized Minnesota officials for their response, while defending the actions of federal agents and reiterating that they should be allowed to do their jobs. But for Pretti's loved ones, it's not about politics — it's about truth, accountability, and a son they'll never get back.