Sharikkaa Shanker — January 27, 2026
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen and intensive care unit (ICU) nurse, was shot and killed by federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, triggering protests, political controversy and legal action from state officials and a federal judge. The shooting occurred on a residential street in south Minneapolis during a large federal immigration enforcement operation known locally as Operation Metro Surge, in which DHS and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were executing enforcement actions.
According to official statements from DHS, officers encountered Pretti, claiming he “approached” agents with a handgun and violently resisted attempts to disarm him, prompting an agent to fire in self-defense. DHS officials portrayed the encounter as dangerous and said the agent was justified in using lethal force.
However, multiple videos and eyewitness accounts contradict the federal description. Bystander footage reviewed by independent news organizations showed Pretti holding only a cellphone immediately before he was tackled by several agents. Witnesses in a court filing said he was not threatening agents and had not pointed a weapon at them when shots were fired. While he did have a gun on his person, federal officials say he was legally licensed to carry it. Further videos showed that an ICE agent had taken the gun out of his belt before another agent shot him approximately 10 times.
(Note: A New York Times analysis of a bystander video, as well as the video itself, is linked here and an NBC analysis here. We would recommend watching them for yourselves with a critical, yet open mind.)
Pretti was well known in his community as a compassionate ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital, where he cared for veterans. Friends and colleagues described him as dedicated, thoughtful and deeply committed to helping others. His family has strongly disputed federal claims that he posed a threat to law enforcement. He had no violent criminal history beyond minor traffic violations, according to the Minneapolis Police Department. Pretti’s death ignited immediate protests throughout Minneapolis, drawing national attention. Hundreds of demonstrators marched through the streets demanding accountability and an end to the federal immigration surge.
Local leaders, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, condemned the shooting, called the official DHS narrative “nonsense,” and demanded federal agents withdraw from the state. Community vigils and memorials sprang up near the site of the shooting, where mourners gathered in bitterly cold weather to honor Pretti’s life and call for justice. Some protesters clashed with law enforcement, and Walz deployed the Minnesota National Guard to help local authorities maintain order. The controversy comes on the heels of at least two other fatal encounters involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in January, further fueling local anger and suspicion toward Operation Metro Surge and other federal tactics.
The federal government’s account that Pretti approached agents with a firearm and resisted has been sharply challenged. Multiple videos and witness affidavits filed in court suggest Pretti was filming agents or trying to help others when he was tackled. One eyewitness said Pretti “did not approach the agents with a gun” and that he “approached them with a camera.” Critics argue that the federal narrative exaggerates the danger Pretti posed and that authorities have not been transparent in releasing all relevant evidence. Supporters of Pretti contend he was exercising his First Amendment rights to document law enforcement activity, and that video evidence points to excessive use of force.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security alleging federal mishandling of evidence. Investigators reported being blocked by DHS from accessing the shooting scene, even after obtaining a judicial search warrant. Responding to the lawsuit, US District Court Judge Eric Tostrud, a federal judge appointed during the Trump administration, issued a temporary restraining order against DHS and related agencies. The order prohibits federal officials from destroying, altering or hiding any evidence connected to the Pretti shooting while the legal dispute continues. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison praised the ruling, emphasizing the need for a full, transparent investigation and respect for the rule of law. Ellison has vowed to continue legal action to ensure accountability in the case. However, it is unclear whether the ICE agent in this shooting, as well as the agent who killed Renee Good two weeks ago, will actually be prosecuted since federal agents are generally immune from state prosecution for actions taken as part of their official duties.
Pretti’s death has quickly escalated from a local tragedy to a national flashpoint in debates over immigration enforcement, federal authority and police accountability. Former national leaders and lawmakers from both parties have spoken out, calling for thorough investigations and greater oversight of federal enforcement actions. Supporters of the Trump administration’s approach argue that federal agents must be able to conduct operations safely without interference from civilians, while critics say Operation Metro Surge represents an overreach that undermines civil liberties and public safety.
As Minnesota and federal officials continue to dispute the facts and pursue legal remedies, the case of Alex Pretti is now a rallying point for communities concerned about law enforcement practices and immigrant enforcement operations in the United States. The restraining order ensures that evidence will be preserved for further judicial review, but the broader political and social ramifications are still unfolding.
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The Red Folder 
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