An indication for 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer earlier within the day, is displayed throughout a vigil Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Adam Grey/AP
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Adam Grey/AP
Tensions are escalating in Minneapolis after Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. citizen, was killed throughout an encounter with immigration officers on Saturday morning.
Immigration officers mentioned Pretti was shot a number of occasions shortly after 9 a.m. native time when federal officers had been conducting a focused operation in opposition to a unique man who was undocumented and needed for assault.
Here’s what to know.
The sufferer was an ICU nurse who liked the outside
Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and an ICU nurse, has been recognized by officers because the taking pictures sufferer.
The sufferer’s father Michael Pretti advised the Related Press his son had participated within the protests as a result of he “cared about folks deeply and he was very upset with what was taking place in Minneapolis and all through the USA with ICE, as hundreds of thousands of different persons are upset.”
His mom, Susan Pretti, advised the AP her son was passionate concerning the atmosphere and “took his canine in all places he went.”
Neighbors had been additionally shocked by his dying. Jeanne Wiener, who lived subsequent door to Pretti, advised MPR Information that she would chat with him when he was strolling his canine round their Lyndale neighborhood.
“He was a relaxed particular person; he is a nurse,” Wiener mentioned Saturday. “I am mad. I am offended. This was particular person. This isn’t a violent particular person.”
Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, who labored on the Minneapolis VA Medical Middle with Pretti, remembered him as an “extremely competent particular person” who was good at his job.
“There is no such thing as a motive for a man like that to be useless, not to mention to be killed by the brokers of a authorities that employed him,” Drekonja additionally advised MPR Information, including that Pretti was a candy, form man who liked the outside and mountain biking.
Pretti’s dad and mom mentioned they had been “sickened” by Trump administration officers suggesting their son was a “home terrorist.”
Federal officers defended Border Patrol Brokers
Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem defended the officers’ actions on Saturday and mentioned they “acted in accordance with their coaching.” Noem additionally accused Pretti of “brandishing” his weapon and that he “attacked” officers.
“This appears to be like like a scenario the place a person arrived on the scene to inflict most harm on people and to kill legislation enforcement,” Noem advised reporters throughout a press convention.
Officers mentioned Pretti had a 9mm semiautomatic handgun with him.
Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol commander, mentioned the officer who fired pictures was “extremely educated” and has labored as a Border Patrol agent for the final eight years. Bovino mentioned the taking pictures stays below investigation.
Bystander movies do not assist key particulars from authorities
Bystander movies posted on social media seem to contradict DHS’ account of the taking pictures.
Footage seems to indicate Pretti being surrounded by a number of federal brokers, with a number of restraining him and punching him whereas he’s on the bottom earlier than he’s shot. A number of rounds of gunfire will be heard as Pretti lies on the bottom.
Up to now, there was no video displaying that Pretti brandished or tried to make use of the firearm that federal officers mentioned he had in his possession.
Minneapolis officers are questioning the DHS account
Pretti had no legal document and his solely recognized interplay with police concerned site visitors tickets, in accordance with Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. He additionally was a lawful gun proprietor with a allow to legally carry a gun, O’Hara additionally mentioned on Saturday.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey mentioned throughout a press convention he plans to hunt a brief restraining order from a choose on Monday that will grant “rapid aid” to cease the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Frey additionally mentioned he despatched a request to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for help from the Nationwide Guard to assist “the restricted variety of officers that we have now within the Minneapolis Police Division.”
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar condemned the taking pictures and referred to as for immigration officers to depart the state.
“Our message is actually clear and simple. We’d like ICE out of Minnesota,” Klobuchar mentioned throughout a press convention. “They aren’t making us extra protected, because the tragic, tragic killing this morning, as folks noticed it viscerally on that video exhibits us, they’re making us much less protected.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz referred to as the taking pictures “sickening” and mentioned the state “has had it” in a social media put up on Saturday. Walz mentioned he spoke with the White Home concerning the taking pictures and mentioned “the President should finish this operation.”
Walz additionally mentioned he was glad there was footage of the incident, saying: “Thank God, thank God, we have now video as a result of, in accordance with DHS, these seven heroic guys took an onslaught of a battalion in opposition to them or one thing. It is nonsense, folks. It’s nonsense, and it is lies.”
That is the third ICE-related taking pictures in Minneapolis
It’s the second killing involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis this month after ICE officers shot Renee Macklin Good on Jan. 7 in her SUV as she drove away after partially blocking a Minneapolis road.
In one other incident, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celia, a Venezuelan nationwide, was shot within the leg by immigration officers throughout an altercation with these brokers.
NPR’s Cheryl W. Thompson contributed to this report.
