Alex Jeffrey Pretti is the 37 year old US citizen murdered by ICE. He’s registered ICU nurse, an athlete, a son and a brother. RIP

On Saturday morning in Minneapolis, a deeply troubling confrontation unfolded between federal immigration agents and a man who has now been identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old United States citizen, registered ICU nurse, athlete, son and brother. His death has sparked intense public scrutiny, protests, and national debate over the actions of federal officers and the role of aggressive immigration enforcement operations in American cities.

Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents during what authorities described as a targeted operation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security in south Minneapolis. The operation is part of a broader enforcement surge that has drawn hundreds of federal officers into the Twin Cities in recent weeks, amid protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agents.

What immediately drew widespread attention was the video that emerged from the scene, captured by a bystander wearing a pink coat, which quickly spread across social media. The footage appears to show Pretti and several federal agents struggling on the street, with agents trying to restrain him before gunfire is heard. In clips circulating online, the man lies on the ground as a rapid series of shots ring out. Voices can be heard in the background shouting in disbelief at what is happening.

According to local law enforcement, Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry, and he had no serious criminal history beyond minor traffic infractions. He lived in south Minneapolis, worked as an intensive care nurse, and had ties to Colorado and Wisconsin through family and friends.

Minnesota Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Pretti was identified as the 37-year-old man in the video. City officials have noted that while the Department of Homeland Security claims the man approached agents with a handgun and resisted disarmament, preliminary evidence and witness accounts present a more complex picture of events leading up to the shooting. Multiple angles of video shared online show the confrontation escalating before shots are fired, with some viewers interpreting Pretti’s actions as attempting to help or record, rather than to threaten.

Federal authorities described the officer’s use of force as “defensive shots” after the man allegedly approached them with a firearm. DHS said a handgun with two magazines was recovered at the scene. Minneapolis police confirmed Pretti’s status as a legal gun owner and noted that his personal record showed no serious criminal history. The exact sequence of events and what happened immediately before the shooting remains under investigation, with disputes between federal and local officials over access to evidence and jurisdiction.

The impact of the shooting rippled across the city almost immediately. Protesters gathered at the scene and later marched in the surrounding neighborhoods, chanting and condemning the federal presence. Officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, criticized the deployment of federal agents and called for clarity and accountability. Some city leaders have demanded the removal of federal immigration forces from Minneapolis, arguing that their presence only exacerbates tensions.

The shooting also reignited emotions tied to a similar incident earlier this month in which an ICE agent fatally shot another local resident, Renée Good, less than three weeks prior. That event had already triggered large demonstrations and community vigils, and now Pretti’s death adds to a sense of frustration and grief among many residents and advocates.

Pretti’s family and friends remember him not for this final moment, but for his work and character. They describe him as someone devoted to helping others, a healthcare professional who cared for patients, a committed athlete, and a close family member whose life was cut short in a flash of violence. Tributes from those who knew him emphasize his service to others and the tragedy of how his life ended.

The video of the shooting remains central to the public’s reaction. Many viewers say it shows a man who was overwhelmed by armed agents and struck down while being held on the ground, captured from the sidewalk by a witness who did not appear to be involved in the confrontation. Calls for independent investigation and accountability have grown louder as news outlets and civil rights organizations parse the footage and await official findings.

For now, Pretti’s name has become part of a larger national conversation about the use of force by federal agents, how such operations are conducted in urban communities, and how civilian encounters with law enforcement are documented and scrutinized in the digital age. His death has left a grieving family and a community searching for answers and accountability.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse, an athlete, a son and a brother. His life and the circumstances of his death continue to resonate far beyond the streets of Minneapolis, as Americans watch and debate what justice and reform should look like.