Alex Pretti
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Minneapolis emerged as a focal point of national debate on federal immigration enforcement after the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who had been injured by federal agents previously.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and legal observer at anti-immigration enforcement protests, was fatally shot by US Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. Minneapolis police say the shooting has sparked widespread legal battles and deep public outrage over federal conduct.

Federal Enforcement and Prior Confrontations

Federal officials confirm Pretti's death occurred amid Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis designed to detain undocumented individuals, which was already controversial for its aggressive tactics.

According to sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Pretti's encounter with federal authorities did not begin on 24 January but was preceded by an earlier confrontation about a week prior. During that incident, Pretti reportedly observed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents pursuing what he described as a family on foot. Sources told CNN that Pretti stopped his car, began shouting and blowing a whistle to draw attention, and was tackled by at least five agents, an encounter that left him with a broken rib.

Records reviewed by the network indicate he later received medication consistent with treatment for a broken rib. Federal officials in Minneapolis declined to comment on the specifics of the earlier confrontation, but internal correspondence has instructed agents to document images, licence plates, and identities of some protest observers. Law enforcement sources told local stations and federal court filings that ICE and Customs and Border Protection were documenting protesters, though the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denied maintaining a database of domestic threats.

Circumstances of the Fatal Shooting

The fatal encounter on 24 January occurred around 09:05 CST near the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street in Minneapolis. Video evidence reviewed by multiple outlets shows Pretti recording agents and attempting to help a woman previously shoved by officers before being pepper-sprayed and wrestled to the ground by several federal agents.

Federal authorities initially characterised Pretti as approaching Border Patrol agents with a handgun and resisting violently. However, multiple witness accounts and video evidence contradict that narrative. Independent analysis and bystander testimony indicate Pretti was holding only a mobile phone, not a weapon, when agents confronted him, and that any drawn firearm was removed from him by an agent moments before he was shot. One witness, verified by People magazine, said Pretti was filming agents at the scene, and that the fatal shooting followed moments after agents restrained him on the ground.

Legal Clash Over Evidence and Accountability

In the days following the shooting, Minnesota state officials moved swiftly to challenge federal control of the investigation. A federal judge in St Paul granted a temporary restraining order prohibiting the destruction or alteration of evidence linked to Pretti's death, including materials agencies removed from the scene and items in their custody, after state investigators were twice denied access to the shooting location, even with a judicial warrant.

The lawsuit argues federal agents' actions in controlling access to evidence and public communication about the case represent 'serious irregularities' and impede independent inquiry. Deputy Solicitor General Peter Farrell told the court that state authorities identified significant gaps in the federal investigation that require judicial oversight to ensure evidence is legally preserved.

Federal lawyers have countered that DHS and related agencies are following normal investigative procedures, with evidence being preserved as part of concurrent federal inquiries. They have opposed state access to some evidence on constitutional grounds, arguing the federal nature of the incident places it outside state jurisdiction.

Human and Political Aftermath

Pretti's death has sparked nationwide protests, legal activism, and political commentary. Video of demonstrations after the shooting has circulated widely, showing crowds decrying federal actions and demanding accountability. Family members and close witnesses have rejected descriptions of Pretti as a threat. According to his sister, Micayla Pretti, his character as a compassionate ICU nurse and his actions on the day of the shooting reflect his dedication to others, not aggression.

The shooting has become a flash point in debates over immigration enforcement, the use of lethal force by federal agents, and the limits of state access to federal investigations. As litigation over evidence preservation and operational authority continues in federal court, Minneapolis remains a potent symbol of broader national conflict over law enforcement, civil liberties, and community trust.