(Photo: Michael Pretti / Star Tribune)
Minneapolis, MN — January 24, 2026 — A 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and intensive care nurse, Alex Jeffery Pretti, was fatally shot early Saturday morning by federal immigration agents during an enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck by multiple gunshots from officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), part of a broader federal operation in the city.
Pretti, who worked as an ICU nurse at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis and had no significant criminal history, was killed around 9:00 a.m. CST near Nicollet Avenue during a confrontation with federal agents participating in an immigration enforcement action. Local authorities said he was shot following an encounter in which agents attempted to detain him.
According to preliminary statements from the Department of Homeland Security, agents involved in the operation said Pretti was armed and resisted commands, leading them to fire their weapons. However, video footage and witness accounts circulating on social media and reported by multiple news outlets show conflicting details from the official account. Some footage appears to show Pretti holding only a phone and attempting to assist a woman who had been pushed to the ground by agents before the confrontation escalated.
Chief Brian O’Hara of the Minneapolis Police Department confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner, with a valid Minnesota permit to carry, and that his only prior interactions with law enforcement involved minor traffic offenses.
Pretti’s family and colleagues described him as a dedicated healthcare professional committed to helping others. They have disputed initial characterizations from federal officials and called for accountability as details of the shooting continue to unfold.
The incident has occurred amid heightened tensions over federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis under “Operation Metro Surge,” which has drawn widespread protests and criticism in recent weeks following another fatal shooting earlier this month.
Local and national law enforcement agencies are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Federal agents at the scene were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of these reviews, officials said.