Tragic Shooting of Minneapolis VA Nurse Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice

The fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit (ICU) nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents on January 24, 2026, has ignited widespread grief, protests, and demands for accountability. Pretti, a dedicated caregiver to veterans, was killed during an immigration enforcement operation amid President Donald Trump’s nationwide crackdown.

The incident unfolded around 9 a.m. on Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis, near Pretti’s Lyndale neighborhood home. Bystander videos show Pretti filming CBP agents detaining individuals. Witnesses report he intervened to aid a woman who was tackled and pepper-sprayed, raising his hands while holding his phone. Agents pinned him down, and multiple shots—10 in under five seconds, per forensic audio analysis—were fired. Pretti suffered wounds to his back, chest, and possibly neck; he was declared dead at the scene. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide due to multiple gunshot wounds.

ProPublica identified the shooters as Border Patrol agent Jesus “Jesse” Ochoa (43) and CBP officer Raymundo Gutierrez (35), both from Texas, participating in Operation Metro Surge. Initial federal statements, including from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, claimed Pretti arrived armed to attack officers, labeling him a “domestic terrorist.” However, videos do not show him drawing or holding a gun during the struggle; one agent appears to remove a firearm from him earlier. Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit, but police noted his only law enforcement contacts were minor traffic tickets—no criminal record.

Pretti’s family, including parents Michael and Susan Pretti from Colorado, released a heartfelt statement condemning the administration’s narrative. “We are heartbroken but also very angry,” they wrote. “Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse… The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked… Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.”

His sister, Micayla Pretti, told the Associated Press that Alex “touched more lives than he probably ever realised” through his VA work with critically ill patients and passion for cancer research. “All her brother ever wanted was to help someone – anyone,” she said.

Born in 1988 in Illinois, Pretti grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he played football, baseball, and track at Preble High School, was a Boy Scout, and sang in the Green Bay Boy Choir. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2011 with a degree in biology, society, and the environment. After working as a research scientist, he became a registered nurse and joined the Minneapolis VA ICU, earning praise for his empathy—holding hands during crises and providing dignified care.

Unearthed footage from January 13 shows Pretti in a prior scuffle with federal agents during a protest, where he kicked a CBP vehicle’s tail light before being tackled. No charges followed, but his attorney, Steve Schleicher, said it does not justify the fatal shooting.

The killing—the second of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis this month after Renee Good’s death—has fueled protests nationwide. Vigils at VA facilities, including Minneapolis, featured moments of silence, candles, and tributes. Poet Amanda Gorman wrote “For Alex Jeffrey Pretti,” lamenting the loss. Nursing unions and colleagues mourned him as a hero devoted to keeping others alive.

In response to backlash, Trump asked Minneapolis immigration official Gregory Bovino to leave the city, and Border Czar Tom Homan announced drawing down 700 agents from Minnesota. A federal judge issued a restraining order preserving evidence, and the Justice Department probes continue amid civil rights concerns.

Pretti’s family and supporters denounce smears and urge focus on video evidence and his legacy of compassion. As one colleague reflected, “Alex lived to help others—in the hospital and on the streets.” His death highlights tensions in immigration enforcement and the human cost of policy.

wpr.org

He was always the one to help’: A Wisconsin childhood friend …

(Caption: Yearbook photo of Alex Pretti from his high school days in Green Bay, Wisconsin, showing the young man who would grow into a dedicated nurse.)

ny1.com

Vigil in Manhattan protests killing of Minneapolis VA nurse

(Caption: Candlelight vigil outside a VA facility, with flowers, photos, and tributes honoring Alex Pretti’s service to veterans.)

motherjones.com

Alex Pretti Was a Hero. To These Workers, He Was a Colleague, Too …

(Caption: Memorial setup featuring a portrait of Alex Pretti, RN, surrounded by candles and signs reading “Alex Pretti was an ICU nurse devoted to keeping other people alive.”)

nytimes.com

Alex Pretti Memorial Grows, a Week After He Was Killed – The New …

(Caption: Growing memorial at the scene of the incident in Minneapolis, piled with flowers, signs, candles, and mementos demanding justice for Alex Pretti and others.)