ICU nurse Alex Pretti killed in Minneapolis shooting amid immigration crackdown

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot dead by federal agents in Minneapolis, his family has confirmed.

Pretti worked at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital and was described by relatives as an avid outdoorsman who loved mountain biking and nature.

He was understood to have joined protests following the fatal shooting of Renee Good earlier this month, amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement in the city.

The Department of Homeland Security said agents fired in self-defence after Pretti, whom they claimed was armed, resisted efforts to disarm him.

That account has been disputed by eyewitnesses and Pretti’s family, who said videos showed he was not holding a gun when agents tackled him.

His family said Pretti had no criminal record and no prior encounters with law enforcement beyond minor traffic tickets.

They confirmed he legally owned a handgun and held a concealed carry permit but said they had never known him to carry it.

Pretti’s mother said her son was deeply concerned about immigration policies and environmental rollbacks under the Trump administration.

She added that he loved the outdoors, travelled everywhere with his dog and cared deeply about protecting the land.

After online claims labelled him a “domestic terrorist,” his family issued a statement condemning what they called false and damaging accusations.

They urged authorities and the public to “get the truth out” about their son, describing him as a kind and principled man.

Pretti, a Democratic voter, had previously taken part in protests following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, according to his former wife.