Federal Agents Fatally Shoot Minneapolis ICU Nurse Alex Pretti
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Federal Agents Fatally Shoot Minneapolis ICU Nurse Alex Pretti

30 January, 2026.Crime.73 sources

Key Takeaways

  • Federal immigration agents shot and killed 37-year-old Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.
  • Videos show Pretti scuffled with federal agents on Jan. 13, a handgun visible in his waistband.
  • Federal authorities opened multiple investigations and placed the involved officers on administrative leave.

Alex Pretti shooting timeline

Around Jan. 13, newly released bystander and news-crew video shows a man identified as Pretti shouting at immigration-enforcement vehicles, kicking out an SUV taillight, being wrestled to the ground by masked, helmeted officers, and then walking away.

Image from ABC News
ABC NewsABC News

In that clip a handgun is visible tucked into his waistband, though the video does not show him drawing it.

The Jan. 24 recordings show officers subduing Pretti, an officer shouting that he had a gun, and two officers firing during the encounter, after which Pretti died, sparking immediate public outcry, memorials, and demands for accountability.

Pretti video evidence

The released videos have become central evidence and point to contested details.

Several clips show a handgun visible in Pretti's waistband during the Jan. 13 scuffle but do not show him drawing it.

Image from ABC7 Los Angeles
ABC7 Los AngelesABC7 Los Angeles

Footage of the Jan. 24 encounter includes an officer yelling 'He's got a gun' and two officers firing as they tried to subdue him.

Some recordings and witness accounts suggest Pretti was holding a phone when tackled and that an agent removed or secured his firearm before shots were fired.

Other recordings show officers using pepper spray and force during the interaction.

Investigators say the recordings are being reviewed, but the videos alone do not resolve whether officers perceived an imminent lethal threat.

Reactions and investigations

Political leaders and agency officials reacted sharply: President Trump and some allies reposted and cited the Jan. 13 footage to criticize Pretti, with Trump calling him an "agitator" and at times using harsher language.

Newly released video footage shows a scuffle between federal officers and 37-year-old Timothy Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center

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Department of Homeland Security officials and some border-enforcement leaders defended agents' accounts and said they relied on the best available information.

At the same time, state and local officials, veterans' and nursing groups, civil-rights advocates and Pretti's family demanded independent reviews, and the Justice Department opened a civil-rights probe with investigators from DHS, the FBI and oversight bodies reported to be involved.

Public reactions and demands

The killing set off protests, vigils and solidarity actions across the U.S., with health-care workers, unions, grassroots organizers and national activists weighing in.

Outlets reported street demonstrations, nurse walkouts and organized 'National Shutdown' actions, while some groups and commentators urged caution and called for full investigations before rushing to judgment.

Image from Al Jazeera
Al JazeeraAl Jazeera

Gun-rights groups and other organizations also asked for thorough probes and urged restraint in public vilification, while advocates demanded policy changes and accountability for federal enforcement tactics.

Investigations into fatal shooting

Homeland Security Investigations said it is reviewing the earlier videos.

Image from American Center for Law and Justice
American Center for Law and JusticeAmerican Center for Law and Justice

Federal investigators, including the FBI and DOJ civil-rights personnel, are reported to be examining the Jan. 24 shooting.

Officials have not publicly confirmed whether officers in the Jan. 13 scuffle were the same people involved in the killing.

Some outlets report gaps or inconsistencies in official records about the earlier incident.

Legal representatives for Pretti's family have argued that the prior scuffle does not legally justify the use of deadly force in the later encounter.

These points leave fundamental questions about threat perception, officer conduct and agency oversight unresolved.

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