ICU nurse Alex Pretti killed in Minneapolis shooting remembered for kindness and service to patients
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis intensive care unit nurse who was shot and killed by federal agents over the weekend, is being remembered by former colleagues and community members as a compassionate professional committed to helping others.
Federal authorities said that Border Patrol officers acted in self-defense during the encounter, a claim disputed by Minnesota officials, citing video evidence from the scene.
The fatal shooting has prompted an ongoing federal investigation and renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement operations in the state. Vigils and public statements from civic and religious leaders followed in the days after Pretti’s death.
Mentor remembers career dedicated to service and community
A former mentor of Pretti described him as “an absolutely warm, kind, and sweet” person who was deeply committed to health care and public service.
“It’s indeed been absolutely devastating and very surreal to see our Alex have such a terrible, tragic end,” Dr Aasma Shaukat said during an interview on 'CBS Mornings' on Monday, January 26.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in biology, society and the environment, Pretti began working as a research assistant at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.
Shaukat said that she hired him in 2014 to assist with research studies, where he worked enrolling veterans in clinical programs and received consistently positive feedback.
When Pretti later expressed interest in nursing school, colleagues supported his plans by adjusting his schedule and providing letters of recommendation, she said.
He eventually became an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.
“He was just dedicated to health care and really wanted to make a difference in his community and help his fellow citizens,” Shaukat said.
She added that Pretti was “very strong on his values” and compassionate, noting she was not surprised to see him participating in protests against federal immigration enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security has said that Border Patrol officers fired in self-defense after Pretti approached them with a handgun during an immigration operation on Saturday.
Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said that agents fired “defensive shots” after Pretti “violently resisted” efforts to disarm him.
Officials have not clarified whether the weapon was brandished. Pretti had a permit to carry and no criminal record, according to Minnesota officials, who say videos from the scene contradict the federal account.
Vigils held as state and national leaders call for dialogue
Pretti was honored on Sunday during a service at the Basilica of St Mary in Minneapolis, where clergy members prayed for him and his family.
Father Harry Tasto, who worked alongside Pretti for a decade as a chaplain at the Minneapolis VA hospital, said Pretti “was known for his kindness and gentleness to patients.”
He urged those in attendance, “Don’t please pay any attention to the vilification from our national leaders.”
Clergy invited congregants to take home candles in Pretti’s memory. Katie Bartlet, who attended the service despite not being Catholic, said, “It spoke to me to come and bring a candle for Alex.”
In the broader response to the shooting, the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association requested a meeting with President Donald Trump, calling it “constructive and timely” amid heightened tensions.
“During periods of elevated tension, thoughtful leadership and responsible communication are essential to reducing strain rather than amplifying it,” the group said, emphasizing that public trust and officer safety are interconnected.
