Federal Immigration Agent Fatally Shoots Minneapolis Nurse, Triggering Fresh Clash
Federal immigration officers shot and killed a Minneapolis man on Saturday morning, intensifying tensions between Minnesota officials and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as protests spread across the city.
The victim has been identified by Minnesota senators as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and ICU nurse who worked at the Minneapolis VA hospital.
Federal authorities claim a Border Patrol agent fired in self-defense during a confrontation, but state leaders strongly dispute that account after reviewing video footage from the scene.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, officers discharged what they described as “defensive shots” after Pretti allegedly approached agents with a handgun and resisted efforts to disarm him.
Minnesota officials, however, say Pretti was legally permitted to carry a firearm, had no criminal record, and was not holding a weapon at the time he was shot.
Multiple videos reviewed by state authorities show Pretti holding a cellphone rather than a gun during the encounter. Footage also appears to show a federal agent retrieving a firearm during the struggle, contradicting the federal version of events.
Governor Tim Walz publicly dismissed the DHS explanation, calling it “nonsense” and accusing federal officials of misleading the public.
Pretti’s family issued a statement describing him as a compassionate healthcare worker devoted to veterans and community service.
They rejected claims that he posed a threat, accusing the administration of spreading false information about their son.
The incident occurred less than three weeks after another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, was fatally shot by an immigration agent, further fueling public anger over intensified federal enforcement operations in the city.
Vigils and demonstrations have since taken place, with some protests escalating into confrontations with law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said federal officials blocked investigators from accessing the shooting site despite a judge-approved search warrant.
Attorney General Keith Ellison announced plans to challenge the ongoing immigration enforcement surge in court, while the City of Minneapolis is seeking a temporary restraining order to halt federal operations.
The dispute has also drawn national attention, with President Donald Trump accusing Minnesota’s governor and the Minneapolis mayor of encouraging unrest—claims state leaders have rejected as inflammatory.
