On January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was fatally shot by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pretti, a lawful U.S. citizen and licensed nurse with no serious criminal history, was reportedly observing and recording federal agents with his phone during a protest-related incident when the confrontation escalated. Body-camera footage and multiple eyewitness accounts indicate that federal agents pepper-sprayed and physically pushed Pretti before he was shot multiple times; subsequent official claims that Pretti attacked agents or attempted to use a firearm have been contradicted by video evidence and independent reviews. Pretti was pronounced dead shortly after the shooting.
The killing of Pretti has triggered widespread public outrage, protests, and calls for accountability. Demonstrations have taken place both in Minneapolis and across other U.S. cities, with activists demanding transparency in the investigation of federal law-enforcement actions and broader scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics. Family members and supporters have criticized initial statements by the Department of Homeland Security and other officials as misleading, emphasizing that Pretti did not appear to pose a threat when he was shot. Local authorities, including the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the FBI, are actively involved in ongoing investigations, though plans for a coordinated state-federal inquiry have not yet been finalized.
The incident has also reverberated through political and civic discourse, prompting responses from lawmakers and community leaders across the spectrum. Some federal officials have defended the actions of CBP agents, while others — including members of Congress — have demanded a full, independent investigation and greater accountability. The medical examiner in Hennepin County has ruled Pretti’s death a homicide, underscoring the legal and procedural complexities surrounding the case. The event has intensified national debate over the use of force by federal agencies and raised questions about transparency in law-enforcement operations within the United States.
