Alex Pretti was upset with ICE actions and was warned about Renee Nicole Good protests, family says

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Alex Jeffrey Pretti, the 37-year-old ICU nurse fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent near a Minneapolis donut shop, had been grieving the recent loss of his beloved dog and was emotionally shaken by federal immigration actions in the city, his family revealed after his death.

The shooting occurred Saturday, January 24, near a Glam Doll Donuts outlet, just weeks after protests erupted following the killing of Renee Nicole Good during an encounter with an ICE agent earlier this month.

Alex Pretti identified as man killed in Minneapolis shooting

Pretti was identified hours after the shooting by his parents, who spoke to The Associated Press as they struggled to piece together what happened to their son.

The 37-year-old worked as an intensive care nurse at the Veterans Administration and was described by his family as deeply compassionate and committed to caring for others.

Court records show Pretti had no criminal history. Minneapolis police confirmed his only prior interactions with law enforcement involved a couple of parking tickets.

Born in Illinois, Pretti had been living in Minnesota, where he was actively engaged in his community.

Family says Alex Pretti was grieving loss of beloved dog Joule

In the days leading up to the shooting, Pretti was dealing with the loss of his Catahoula Leopard dog, Joule, whom his family described as deeply important to him.

His parents told the Associated Press that Pretti was an avid outdoorsman who loved going on adventures with Joule and had been struggling emotionally since the dog’s death.

The loss, they said, compounded his distress over what he believed was happening in Minneapolis and across the country.

Parents say protests were Alex Pretti's way of expressing care for others

Pretti’s parents said their son had participated in protests following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent identified as Jonathan Ross earlier this month.

They said he was deeply upset by federal actions in Minneapolis and felt compelled to speak out.

“He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset,” his father, Michael Pretti, said. “He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others.”

Parents warned Alex Pretti to be careful during protests

Michael Pretti said he and his wife, who live in Wisconsin, had spoken with their son about the risks involved in protesting.

“We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically,” he said. “And he said he knows that. He knew that.”

The family said Pretti understood the risks but believed peaceful protest was an important expression of solidarity and concern for others.

DHS claims Alex Pretti approached agents with gun

The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti approached Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun at the time of the shooting.

Officials did not specify whether Pretti brandished the weapon, and the firearm is not visible in bystander video capturing the incident.

Family members confirmed that Pretti owned a handgun and had a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Minnesota.

Family struggling to get answers

In the aftermath of the shooting, Pretti's father said the family has been unable to obtain basic information about what happened.

“I can’t get any information from anybody,” he said. “The police, they said call Border Patrol, Border Patrol’s closed, the hospitals won’t answer any questions?”