ALEX PRETTI MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING: 37-year-old VA nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents on Jan 24, 2026. Read the latest on the conflicting video evidence, Governor Walz’s response, and the growing protests in the Twin Cities.
Tensions in the Twin Cities reached a breaking point on Saturday morning, January 24, 2026, after federal Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old local ICU nurse and U.S. citizen. The incident occurred at the busy intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue—known as “Eat Street“—and marks the second fatal shooting of a civilian by federal officers in Minneapolis this month.
While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims agents acted in self-defense, bystander videos and statements from state officials have ignited a firestorm of controversy over the use of lethal force during the administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement surge.
The Incident: “Eat Street” Standoff
The shooting took place around 9:05 a.m. while federal agents were reportedly conducting a “targeted operation” to locate a suspect wanted for domestic assault.
- The Scuffle: Witnesses and video footage show Pretti filming the agents with his phone and helping a woman who had been shoved to the ground.
- The Escalation: Agents pepper-sprayed Pretti and wrestled him to the sidewalk. An analysis of bystander video appears to show at least six agents pinning Pretti down before approximately ten shots were fired over a five-second window.
- The Weapon Dispute: DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that Pretti “approached agents with a 9mm handgun” and “violently resisted.” However, Governor Tim Walz characterized this account as “nonsense” and “lies,” citing video evidence that appears to show Pretti holding only a cell phone before he was tackled.
The Victim: A “Kindhearted Soul” and Veteran Caretaker
Alex Pretti was a well-known figure in the South Minneapolis community, described by friends and family as a compassionate professional who “wanted to make a difference.”
| Detail | Information |
| Profession | ICU Nurse, Minneapolis VA Medical Center |
| Legal Status | U.S. Citizen; Lawful gun owner with permit to carry |
| Criminal Record | None (Minor parking tickets only) |
| Personal Interests | Avid outdoorsman; active in local community protests |
| Recent Loss | Had recently lost his beloved dog, Joule |
“Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and the American veterans he cared for,” his parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, said in a statement. “The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible.”
Political Fallout: Minnesota “Has Had It”
The shooting has triggered an immediate and severe political crisis. Governor Walz has officially called on the White House to end the federal operation and pull agents out of the state, calling their presence an “absolute abomination.”
- Senate Gridlock: Senator Patty Murray announced late Saturday that she will no longer support the bipartisan DHS funding bill in its current form, stating, “Federal agents cannot murder people in broad daylight and face zero consequences.”
- Legal Action: The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office have filed a lawsuit to “prevent the destruction of evidence,” alleging that federal agents blocked state investigators from accessing the crime scene.
- National Guard: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Sheriff Dawanna Witt have requested National Guard assistance to manage the hundreds of protesters who have occupied “Eat Street” and the area around the Whipple Federal Building.
