What do we know about the recent death of Pretti in MN
Executive summary
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA, was shot and killed by federal immigration agents during a Minneapolis operation on January 24, 2026; his death has ignited large protests, political fallout, and competing official and eyewitness narratives while multiple investigations and video reviews remain underway [1] [2] [3].
1. Who was Alex Pretti and where the shooting happened
Pretti worked in the ICU at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and had a background that included nursing school and research work at the University of Minnesota, according to reporting and colleagues who described him as caring and community‑minded; he was identified publicly after the Jan. 24 shooting in Minneapolis [1] [4].
2. What federal authorities say — weapons, intent and officers involved
Federal officials and Border Patrol leadership released images and statements asserting Pretti carried a semi‑automatic handgun and approached agents with intent to massacre them, and they noted the officer who fired had eight years’ Border Patrol service and range‑safety training [2] [5].
3. What videos and witnesses show that complicates the official account
Independent video footage circulated widely and was analyzed by news outlets; those clips appear to show Pretti holding a phone rather than a gun when agents forcibly took him to the ground, and some outlets report two officers firing many rounds into him—details that contradict elements of the federal narrative [2] [6].
4. Immediate official responses, investigations and footage review
The Department of Homeland Security said it is reviewing body‑worn camera footage from federal officers at the scene, and federal agents present were placed on administrative duty or relocated for safety pending review; state officials have also moved to lead aspects of the inquiry, and video evidence has been submitted in local filings [7] [8] [6].
5. Political and civic reaction — protests, state action and Washington’s response
Pretti’s killing sparked large vigils and protests in Minneapolis and prompted calls for de‑escalation from local CEOs, condemnation from athletes and public figures, an activation of the Minnesota National Guard, and mixed messaging from the White House as the administration dispatched border czar Tom Homan to the state and said it would review the incident [9] [10] [8] [11].
6. Conflicting narratives and broader context
Minnesota officials and many protesters describe the federal presence as an occupation that has escalated violence, while administration allies and some federal spokespeople frame the incidents as enforcement actions against dangerous individuals; several outlets note the killing of Pretti is the second recent fatality involving federal agents in Minneapolis, heightening scrutiny of the deployment [12] [13] [3].
7. What remains unresolved or unknown
Key forensic details—autopsy findings, precise ballistics timelines, the full content of body‑cam recordings, and the formal prosecutorial or disciplinary outcomes for the officers—have not been published in the sources reviewed; reporting so far shows competing evidence (official claims, released images, and independent video) but does not yet present a concluded legal finding [7] [2] [6].
8. Why this matters now
Pretti’s death has become a focal point for national debate over federal immigration enforcement tactics, use of deadly force, public accountability for agents operating in local jurisdictions, and political messaging from the White House and state leaders; the case’s resolution will likely influence both local trust in law enforcement and national policy conversations about how federal operations are carried out in American cities [12] [11] [8].