Governor Tim Walz Gives a Poignant Speech After a 37‑Year‑Old Man Lost His Life During a Federal Enforcement Confrontation in Minneapolis

Minnesota is reeling after a VA nurse was shot dead by federal agents in broad daylight, sparking fury, fear, and a fiery rebuke aimed directly at Donald Trump.

One man is dead, a city is on edge, and Minnesota's governor is demanding action. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was killed in the middle of a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation, becoming the second Minnesotan to die in such a raid in recent weeks.

Governor Tim Walz confirmed the chilling detail with unflinching clarity, "The world knows how he died. He died at the hands of ICE agents on the streets of Minneapolis."

Pretti had worked at a VA hospital and was described as a man who cared deeply for veterans and Minnesota life. He had also been on the street that day, acting as what the governor called a First Amendment witness to the escalating presence of federal agents.

A Family's Private Grief Made Public

Walz revealed that he had spoken with Pretti's parents, Michael and Susan, just the night before. Their heartbreak was palpable.

"The heartache in the hours after your son's murdered in front of the world is one thing," Walz said. "But what stood out to me was a parent's desire and their passion to make sure that the story of Alex was told."

Michael Pretti had one request: that no one forget his son's name or how he lived. Walz echoed that plea, calling on Minnesotans to remember not just the death, but the man himself.

Trump Accused of Endangering Lives

The governor did not hold back when addressing who he believes is to blame. In an extraordinary moment, Walz directly called out President Donald Trump, saying that thousands of untrained federal agents had turned Minnesota into a war zone.

"We believe in law and order in this state. We believe in peace, and we believe that Donald Trump needs to pull these 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another person," he asserted.

He continued, "President Trump, you can end this today. Pull these folks back. Do humane, focused, effective immigration control." Walz also questioned the intent behind the federal surge.

"So my question is, what is the plan, Donald Trump? What is the plan?" he asked. "What do we need to do to get these federal agents out of our state?"

Pretti's death follows that of Renee Good, a poet and mother who was also killed in a recent federal operation. Walz made it clear that the tragedy is compounding.

"We didn't have time to start telling [Renee Good's] story [...] and now we're telling Alex's story," he said.

A Nation Asked to Choose

Walz broadened his address to the entire country, asking Americans to consider where they stand.

"To Americans who are watching this right now, and I don't know, maybe you're watching it with curiosity, bewilderment, horror, scorn, or sympathy," he said. "I've got a question for all of you: What side do you want to be on?"

In closing, Walz praised Minnesotans for their dignity and resolve, encouraging them to stay strong.

"Minnesotans, you have won the hearts and minds of people across this country, and you have done it through your peaceful, resolved defense of your neighbors and the Constitution. So once again, Minnesotans, stay peaceful, stay safe. Change is coming, and we can feel it. But this fight still goes on," he concluded.

As we had previously reported, Pretti was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24, 2026. 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

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.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed the shooting occurred during a broader federal immigration crackdown.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (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

Alex Jeffrey Pretti was 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 37-year-old 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, Pretti 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, Pretti 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, Pretti cared deeply about the environment. According to his mother, Susan Pretti, 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 Pretti, 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," said Pretti's dad. "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, Pretti had a history of political engagement.

Protest History

According to his ex-wife via AP, Pretti 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, Pretti 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 he 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.