Government union slams DHS narrative on fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal agent
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the government union that represented Alex Jeffrey Pretti at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, has criticized the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) public account of the fatal shooting that killed the registered nurse during an encounter with federal agents.
A Border Patrol officer fatally shot Pretti on Saturday, January 24, in Minneapolis, setting off protests and renewed anger in a city already unsettled by a similar deadly shooting weeks earlier. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions over federal immigration enforcement operations under the Trump administration.
Government union challenges DHS account of Alex Jeffrey Pretti shooting
DHS has said Pretti was brandishing a weapon at officers when he was shot. AFGE disputed that claim, stating that “based on the video currently available, that claim is not clearly established.”
In a statement, the union offered condolences to Pretti’s family and colleagues, describing him as a registered nurse and a dedicated public servant. AFGE said it was devastated by the loss of one of its members and stressed that the circumstances surrounding the shooting require careful scrutiny.
The union confirmed that Pretti was a member of AFGE Local 3669, which represents workers at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. AFGE also said it is seeking to determine whether the Border Patrol agent involved in the shooting was a union member.
Protests follow fatal shooting as National Guard mobilized
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Minneapolis following the shooting, demanding accountability and calling for the withdrawal of federal agents from the city. Demonstrators cited both the killing and broader concerns over federal enforcement tactics.
The Minnesota National Guard was mobilized later Saturday to move “from a ready posture to active support” at a federal building in Minneapolis and near the scene of the shooting, according to a National Guard spokesperson.
Video footage raises questions about use of force
Bystander video obtained by The Associated Press captured chaotic scenes on Nicollet Avenue. Protesters can be heard blowing whistles and shouting profanities at federal agents. In the footage, Pretti appears to be holding a phone, with no weapon clearly visible.
The video shows an officer shoving a person carrying a water bottle, who then reaches toward another man. As the two fall backward together, officers converge on the man, eventually surrounding him with at least seven agents. One officer appears to be on the man’s back, while another holding what looks like a canister strikes him several times as officers attempt to pull his arms behind him.
A gunshot is heard while officers are still surrounding the man, though the video does not clearly show who fired it. Additional shots follow as officers back away, leaving the man motionless in the street.
Crowd reaction and political response after Pretti’s death
After the shooting, an angry crowd gathered, shouting profanities and calling officers “cowards.” One officer was heard responding mockingly, saying, “Boo hoo,” as he walked away. Federal agents later deployed batons and flash bangs devices as protesters dragged dumpsters into the street and chanted, “ICE out now.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he contacted the White House and urged President Donald Trump to end what DHS has described as its largest-ever immigration enforcement operation. Pretti’s father, Michael Pretti, said the family had urged him to be careful while protesting. “He knew that,” his father said. “He knew that.”
