Family of Alex Petti Makes Statement After the Tragedy in Minneapolis

After a fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis, a grieving family issued a plea. Their words have since echoed nationwide, drawing support from celebrities and national leaders.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, was shot and killed by federal immigration enforcement in south Minneapolis on Saturday morning. He was a U.S. citizen, born in Illinois, and had lived and worked in Minnesota for several years.

Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, later issued a public statement in response to the shooting. In it, they challenged the version of events shared by government officials and spoke about their son’s life and character, calling him “kindhearted” and devoted to his family, friends, and the veterans he cared for.

“Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact,” they wrote. “I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.”

According to the family, Pretti had no criminal history and had never had any interactions with law enforcement beyond a few traffic tickets. Court records support that claim.

Minnesota officials also disputed remarks made by Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, who described Pretti as a domestic terror threat. Officials in the state dismissed those claims as “nonsense” and “lies,” while the Pretti family called the administration’s version of events “reprehensible and disgusting.”

Their statement included a description of the shooting, alleging that Pretti was not armed. “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed,” they wrote.

Only after laying out their version of events did the parents include the final line of their statement — a direct plea. “Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you,” they concluded.

Their words have since circulated widely on social media, drawing reactions from public figures and celebrities. Actress Jennifer Aniston reshared the statement on her Instagram Story. NBA player Tyrese Haliburton also weighed in, writing, “Alex Pretti was murdered.”

Actress Cynthia Nixon read it aloud in a video, saying she was responding to “morally reprehensible, disgusting lies” about Pretti. Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama issued a joint statement, calling the shooting “a heartbreaking tragedy.”

“Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job,” the statement continued. “But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety. That’s not what we’re seeing in Minnesota. In fact, we’re seeing the opposite.”

The Obamas criticized what they called “unprecedented tactics” used by federal agents, including ICE, in recent weeks. “These unprecedented tactics — which even the former top lawyer of the Department of Homeland Security in the first Trump administration has characterized as embarrassing, lawless and cruel — have now resulted in the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens.”

The other fatality they referenced was Renee Good, another U.S. citizen killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis earlier this month. Both shootings have drawn public outrage and sparked protests across the city and beyond.

“And yet rather than trying to impose some semblance of discipline and accountability over the agents they’ve deployed,” the Obamas added, “the President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings of Mr. Pretti and Renee Good that aren’t informed by any serious investigation — and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence.”

They also voiced support for the peaceful protests that have followed, saying they serve as a reminder that it is up to citizens to “speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable.”

As of Monday, federal officials have not provided additional details. Community members and public figures continue to demand transparency and accountability in the ongoing investigation.