U.S. Border Patrol agents fatally shot 37-year-old U.S. citizen and ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti on January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement operation. Video from multiple angles shows agents shoving bystanders before targeting Pretti, who was filming up close with hands visible and not resisting.
Agents pepper-sprayed him, took him down, disarmed his legally permitted 9mm handgun—legal to carry concealed under Minnesota law—and fired up to 10 shots per audio recordings, leading to his death at a hospital.
ICE claimed self-defense, though Pretti showed no signs of attacking. Pretti, with no criminal history, was aiding traffic amid protests over prior ICE-related fatalities, including Renee Good's January 7 shooting, where an ICE agent fired into her vehicle after alleging she tried to run him over—disputed by video analyses.
This marks the third such federal shooting in recent weeks, raising questions about use of force as immigration detentions rise under President Trump. As investigations continue, local officials—including Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension—seek access to the scene under a judicial warrant, but DHS/ICE agents have blocked entry, denying checks despite court orders.
