Overview of the Shooting:
Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs medical center, was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents on January 24, 2026 during an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. Federal authorities described the encounter as chaotic and said agents wrestled a gun from his waistband before opening fire. Homeland Security and border officials initially framed the incident by asserting Pretti approached officers with a weapon, though video evidence and witness accounts have challenged that narrative.

Video Footage & Public Accounts:
Multiple bystander videos show Pretti being shoved to the ground during the confrontation, a moment when officers then shouted that he had a gun. Footage suggests he was shot in the back while on the ground and that he may have been holding a phone at the time of the shooting, not brandishing a weapon. Pretti was legally permitted to carry a firearm.

Prior Incident Days Earlier:
Newly released footage shows that about 11 days before his death, on January 13, Pretti was involved in a separate altercation with federal immigration agents during a protest in Minneapolis. In that event, he is seen confronting federal vehicles and was tackled to the ground by officers after cursing at them and kicking out a vehicle taillight. A handgun in his waistband appears visible in the earlier footage, though he does not appear to reach for it in that encounter. Pretti told his family about this prior contact.

Reactions & Investigations:
The fatal shooting has sparked significant public backlash, protests, and debate over the use of force by federal agents during heightened immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Officials such as DHS leadership and the city’s mayor have faced pressure over transparency and tactics. The Trump administration has deployed a larger immigration enforcement presence in the city and has begun signaling changes in approach after the shootings.

Contested Narratives & Accountability:
Pretti’s family, attorneys, and many community members dispute early official characterizations of the shooting. They argue that the available video evidence contradicts claims that he posed an imminent threat at the moment he was shot and that he was acting peacefully or humanely—many reports describe him as documenting or attempting to assist others before the encounter escalated.

Broader Context:
The shooting of Pretti was one of at least two recent fatal incidents involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, adding to local and national scrutiny of ICE and Border Patrol operations. The release of additional videos and legal reviews continue to fuel discussion about law enforcement practices, the legal justification for the use of deadly force, and demands for accountability