Alex Pretti GoFundMe surpasses $300K after Minneapolis shooting

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: A GoFundMe fundraiser supporting the family of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a Minneapolis resident killed by a Border Patrol agent during a federal immigration enforcement operation on January 24, has surged past $300,000, organizers said. 

The campaign, which initially gained traction with more than $160,000 raised in its first days, has drawn thousands of donations from across the country.

Keith Edwards organized the fundraiser, and its description states that a Minneapolis resident and American citizen was “executed on the streets of Minneapolis by ICE agents."

Campaign support grows amidst protests

A GoFundMe campaign titled “Alex Pretti is an American Hero” has raised more than $300,000 from thousands of donations as of Saturday evening, far exceeding its initial $20,000 goal.

The fundraiser aims to support Pretti’s loved ones with “immediate and ongoing needs,” according to the page. The campaign description reads, “On January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a Minneapolis resident and American citizen, was executed on the streets of Minneapolis by ICE agents.”

“This fundraiser is intended to support the loved ones he leaves behind with immediate and ongoing needs. Because details are still unfolding, and to ensure the money goes to the right person, funds will not be distributed until we can verify next-of-kin and identify the appropriate family representative to manage anything raised.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters that the victim was believed to be an American citizen with no criminal history beyond traffic citations and that he legally owned a firearm.

State records show Pretti had a nursing license issued in 2021, which remained active through 2026.

DHS defends fatal Border Patrol shooting

The Department of Homeland Security says Pretti walked up to U.S. Border Patrol officers with a handgun during what officials described as a “targeted operation.” Federal agents say he resisted violently, and one of them shot him. Paramedics attempted to save him, but he died shortly after.

DHS claims Pretti approached Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun and “violently resisted” when officers attempted to disarm him, prompting what officials described as defensive shots.

However, bystander video shows at least seven officers surrounding Pretti before shots were fired, raising questions about the federal account of events.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a speech, “How many times must local and national leaders must plead with you, Donald Trump, to end this operation and recognize that this is not creating safety in our city… We have seen these kinds of operations in other places, in other countries, but not here in America.”

As the GoFundMe campaign continues to grow, organizers and supporters say they hope the funds will provide financial support to Pretti’s family and draw attention to the circumstances surrounding his death.