Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse working for the Veterans Administration, died this Saturday in Minneapolis after being shot by a federal agent, as confirmed by the deceased's family.
Pretti, a U.S. citizen born in Illinois, had no criminal record, according to court records. His family states that he had never had issues with law enforcement beyond a couple of traffic tickets.
The young man was known for his strong commitment to society and his concern about the immigration policies of President Donald Trump, especially regarding the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis. In this context, he had recently participated in protests following the death of Renee Good at the hands of an ICE agent earlier this month.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the man was shot after "approaching" United States Border Patrol agents while carrying a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. In the footage of the incident recorded by witnesses, the weapon is not visible.
Family members confirmed that Pretti owned a firearm and had a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Minnesota, although they were unaware that he was carrying it.
Pretti was an outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed adventures with his recently deceased Catahoula Leopard dog, Joule. His parents, who reside in Wisconsin, had spoken to him weeks before to warn him about the risks of participating in protests and asked him to act with caution, to which he responded that he was aware.
The family learned about the shooting through a call from a journalist. After watching the video of the incident and recognizing the deceased, they unsuccessfully tried to obtain information from local authorities. Finally, the Hennepin County coroner confirmed the existence of a body matching the name and description of Alex Jeffrey Pretti.