U.S. Border Patrol Officers Murder ICU Nurse Alex Pretti During Anti-ICE Protest in Minneapolis

On Jan. 24, 2026, federal Border Patrol agents fatally shot 37‑year‑old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti during an anti‑ICE protest in Minneapolis.

“Protesters have stormed a hotel after a second fatal ICE shooting, as Donald Trump revealed what his administration will do next”

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Multiple bystander videos and witness accounts shared widely show a scuffle on an icy roadway in which officers push and spray protesters.

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The footage and accounts show officers wrestle Pretti to the ground and then fire.

Snippets indicate Pretti was holding a cellphone and was not seen brandishing a weapon before shots were fired.

Federal officials from the Department of Homeland Security said an agent acted in self‑defense after attempting to disarm Pretti and that a pistol was found on him.

Minnesota officials and local leaders said the administration’s account conflicted with the footage they viewed.

Independent video analyses and multiple press accounts describe a rapid sequence of force: agents sprayed and subdued Pretti, an apparent removal of a handgun from his waistband is visible in some clips, and shots are fired within seconds.

Open-source investigators and outlets reported that Pretti's weapon never discharged (the slide did not move) and that agents fired roughly 10 rounds in a matter of seconds, findings that some reporters say contradict the administration's initial characterization.

BBC

Several outlets and analysts stressed that the timing and handling visible on video are central pieces of evidence being scrutinized in new criminal and administrative reviews.

The shooting intensified political backlash and produced cross-spectrum calls for investigation and restraint.

“Former President Obama and Michelle Obama condemned the recent violence and urged officials to stop the chaos, call for constructive cooperation between federal, state and local leaders, and encouraged Americans to support peaceful protests and speak out against injustice”

Business Standard

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama called Pretti's killing a "heartbreaking tragedy" and urged federal agents to act lawfully.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other local leaders demanded the federal presence be reduced or withdrawn and sought court relief to preserve evidence.

Congressional Democrats threatened to block Homeland Security funding tied to the deployments, and some Republicans — including senators cited in coverage — expressed concern about federal tactics or called for accountability.

President Trump and administration officials defended the operation in public statements while saying investigations were underway, and Trump said his administration was "reviewing everything."

Minnesota officials sought court orders and the preservation of evidence following the shooting.

A federal judge temporarily barred the Department of Homeland Security from altering or destroying material tied to the killing while investigations proceed.

CBS News

Protests and vigils followed across Minneapolis and beyond, with organizers and demonstrators calling for the withdrawal of federal immigration agents.

Organizers also demanded independent, transparent inquiries into this killing and into an earlier shooting of Renee Good in the city.

Coverage across regions noted concerns about coordination between federal agents and local police and the broader strain the deployments placed on city resources.