U.S. Veteran Affairs Nurse Fatally Shot by Federal Agents in South Minneapolis (5 – Videos)

MINNEAPOLIS — The intersection of 26th Street West and Nicollet Avenue became the epicenter of a national firestorm on Saturday morning after federal agents fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen. The incident occurred at approximately 9:05 a.m. during a “targeted enforcement operation” by U.S. Border Patrol agents acting under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

All videos are at the end of the article courtesy of DWS.

The shooting marks a grim milestone in what has become a month of escalating violence in the Twin Cities. Pretti is the second resident killed by federal immigration officers in January 2026, following the high-profile death of Renee Good on January 7. As news of the shooting spread, Minneapolis erupted in protests, while state and federal leaders engaged in an unprecedented jurisdictional standoff that has effectively paralyzed the city’s ability to investigate the death.

The Morning of the Incident

According to witnesses and verified bystander footage, Alex Pretti had been present in the area filming federal law enforcement activities. A registered nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Pretti was described by his father, Michael Pretti, as being “deeply upset” by the recent surge in immigration enforcement.

Video analysis by major news outlets, including The New York Times and CBS News, provides a harrowing timeline of the confrontation:

• 09:05 AM: Pretti is seen recording agents with his cellphone in his right hand. He appears to move toward a sidewalk to assist a legal observer who had been shoved by an officer.
• The Struggle: An agent is seen pepper-spraying Pretti before tackling him to the ground. Up to six federal agents then swarm Pretti on the snow-covered street.
• The Disarming: One video appears to show an agent in a gray jacket reaching into the scuffle empty-handed and emerging with a handgun. The agent then turns and runs across the street with the weapon.
• The Shots: Approximately eight seconds after Pretti was pinned to the ground, agents are heard yelling “Gun!” before a volley of ten shots is fired at close range.

Pretti was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara later confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry, but added that he had no criminal history beyond minor traffic tickets.

This is President Trump’s posting on TruthSocial

Washington vs. Saint Paul: A Narrative War

Within hours of the shooting, a bitter war of words broke out between the White House and Minnesota state leadership.

The Federal Position: In a televised press conference from Washington D.C., Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agents, characterizing the incident as an act of self-defense against a “domestic terrorist.”

“An individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and violently resisted disarming maneuvers,” Noem stated. She further alleged that Pretti intended to “massacre law enforcement” and claimed he had a history of “domestic assault,” a claim local officials and family members have vehemently disputed as misinformation.

The State Position: Governor Tim Walz held a separate briefing, calling the federal narrative “nonsense.” Walz, who has been increasingly vocal against the federal presence in his state, demanded the immediate withdrawal of the thousands of federal officers currently deployed in Minnesota.

“I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting,” Walz posted to social media. “Minnesota has had it. This is sickening. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”

Constitutional Standoff and Obstructed Investigations

The aftermath of the shooting saw a breakdown in the rule of law between state and federal agencies. Drew Evans, Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), reported that federal agents physically blocked state investigators from the crime scene. Even after the BCA obtained a search warrant signed by a judge, federal authorities reportedly denied them access to process the area or collect evidence.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that his office would head to court Monday morning to seek a temporary restraining order to halt all federal immigration operations in the state, arguing that the federal government’s refusal to cooperate with state death investigations creates a “legal vacuum” that endangers citizens.

Protests and Civil Unrest

By Saturday evening, hundreds of protesters braved sub-zero temperatures to hold vigils and demonstrations. Outside the Whipple Federal Building, federal agents used flash-bang grenades, tear gas, and chemical spray to disperse crowds.

In one widely circulated video, a federal agent was captured mockingly saying “Boo hoo” to a group of grieving residents. This interaction has fueled further rage, with Mayor Jacob Frey requesting National Guard assistance to maintain order while simultaneously criticizing the “unaccountable” nature of the federal units roaming the city.

A Community in Mourning

At the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, colleagues of Alex Pretti described him as an “outstanding” nurse with an “infectious” spirit.

“He was such a good dude,” said Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, who worked with Pretti. “Knowing Alex, he was probably trying to protect or shield somebody. He had not a single mean bone in his body.”

The Pretti family has urged the media to “get the truth out,” stating that their son’s final act was an attempt to protect a bystander from aggressive federal tactics.

Today’s demonstration comes in response to the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old
 man by federal agents in south Minneapolis, the third such shooting in recent 
weeks connected to an expanded immigration enforcement surge. Local leaders, 
including Governor Tim Walz, have condemned the operation and called for its end, 
while crowds have taken to the streets demanding justice, accountability, and 
an end to federal operations in the city. 
🔎 What You’ll See in This Live Coverage: • Real-time on-the-ground visuals of
protesters in Minneapolis • Chants, march routes, and crowd reaction to the 
federal shooting • Eyewitness reports and live updates • Clashes and tension 
between demonstrators and law enforcement • Statements from locals and context 
on the broader enforcement surge

Minnesota law enforcement faces major challenges as federal agents block access 
to a critical crime scene despite a signed judicial warrant. The Bureau of 
Criminal Apprehension (BCA) confirms that state investigators were prevented 
from examining the scene of a federal shooting in Minneapolis. 
This has sparked concerns over transparency and accountability, with federal 
authorities leading the investigation and local investigators struggling to 
gather evidence. Witnesses, videos, and ongoing investigations continue as 
Minnesota officials call for cooperation and justice.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz responds to the second fatal shooting in Minneapolis 
involving federal immigration agents. Speaking at a press conference in Blaine, 
Walz called the incident “sickening” and urged peaceful protests while accusing 
federal officials of trying to spin the narrative. Walz demanded President 
Donald Trump withdraw ICE from Minnesota, saying federal agents were 
“sowing chaos and violence” in local communities. 
The Border Patrol agent involved fired in defense after a man approached 
them with a handgun and magazines, according to DHS.

 ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and U.S. Border Patrol leadership 
hold a press conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, updating the public on 
ongoing immigration enforcement operations under Operation Metro Surge, one 
of the largest federal enforcement actions in the U.S. in recent years.  …

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted this statement on TruthSocial

Sources & Links

• CBS News: Federal agents fatally shoot another Minneapolis resident; officials say feds deny access to scene
• The Guardian: Man killed in Minneapolis by federal agents identified as VA nurse Alex Pretti
• Associated Press: Minneapolis National Guard activated after Border Patrol agent kills man
• The Washington Post: Federal agents shoot another person in Minnesota, governor says
• MPR News: Twin Cities residents reel after third federal shooting in 17 days
• Star Tribune: Independent autopsy findings released in Renee Good killing
• American Immigration Council: Legal analysis of federal immunity in Minnesota shootings