Alex Pretti

Their life

Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care nurse from Minnesota, widely described by family, colleagues, and state officials as a compassionate healthcare professional who dedicated his career to caring for others, including military veterans. Known for his love of the outdoors, mountain biking, and environmental protection, Pretti was deeply engaged in civic life and social justice issues. He was killed on 24 January 2026 in Minneapolis during an encounter with federal immigration agents while filming their actions at a protest, an incident that has sparked widespread public outrage and calls for accountabil

Alex Pretti worked as an intensive care nurse and was regarded as a skilled and deeply empathetic medical professional. According to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, he was a valued co-worker who went to work every day to care for veterans and vulnerable patients. Outside his profession, Pretti was an avid outdoorsman who loved hiking, mountain biking, and spending time in nature with his dog.

Family members said he was increasingly distressed by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and the rollback of environmental protections, which he believed were harming both people and the land he loved. In the weeks leading up to his death, he attended protests in Minneapolis, motivated by civic duty rather than confrontation. His family strongly rejected official claims portraying him as a threat, stating that Alex was peaceful, principled, and committed to protecting others.

How they died

Alex Pretti was killed while acting as a First Amendment witness, filming U.S. federal immigration (ICE/Border Patrol) agents during an enforcement operation and protest in Minneapolis.

Alex Pretti was shot multiple times by a federal immigration agent after being pepper-sprayed, tackled, and restrained on the ground. Video footage reviewed by journalists shows Pretti holding a mobile phone, not a firearm, immediately before the shooting. Although authorities later stated he was a legal gun owner and claimed a weapon was present, witnesses testified they did not see him brandish a gun. Less than a second after an agent was seen holding an object reportedly taken from Pretti’s waistband, shots were fired. A total of ten gunshots were heard, resulting in his death at the scene.

A plea from the family

Alex Pretti’s family publicly condemned what they described as “disgusting lies” about him circulating after his death. His sister stated that Alex was a hero who “touched more lives than he probably ever realised.” The family has called for a full, transparent, and independent investigation, insisting that video evidence clearly contradicts claims that he posed an imminent threat. They have emphasized that Alex was peacefully filming and trying to help others when he was killed.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Alex Pretti, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources