The US citizen fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis was an intensive care nurse at a nearby veterans’ hospital who, according to his family, “wanted to make a difference in this world”.
Alex Pretti, 37, died after being shot during a confrontation with immigration agents on an icy roadway, coming less than three weeks after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers shot and killed another 37-year-old, Renée Good, while she was in her vehicle, reports RTE.
The most recent killing triggered renewed demonstrations and criticism from local leaders, who challenged the Trump administration’s swift assertion that Mr Pretti posed a threat to federal agents while attending protests against a broad immigration crackdown.
Mr Pretti was described as “a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends” as well as the patients he treated at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, his parents said in a statement, reports RTE.
“Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact,” his parents said, reports RTE.
Dimitri Drekonja, head of the Infectious Diseases Section at the Minneapolis VA hospital and a colleague of Mr Pretti, described him as “a good kind person who lived to help”, reports RTE.
“He had such a great attitude. We’d chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now,” Mr Drekonja wrote on the social media platform Bluesky, reports RTE.
He said Mr Pretti was a nurse working “to support critically ill veterans”, reports RTE.
Mr Pretti completed high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 2006, according to local media. He later attended nursing school before beginning his career with the VA, reports RTE.
Officials within the Trump administration have attempted to portray him as a violent attacker.
Mr Pretti’s parents said their son had intervened after a federal agent shoved a woman protester shortly before he was killed, reports RTE.
They condemned what they described as “sickening lies” from the Trump administration and said a gun recovered from Mr Pretti — which authorities said he was licensed to carry — was not in his hand when he was shot.
“Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs,” his parents said in the statement, reports RTE.
“He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed,” reports RTE.
The family urged members of the public to “get the truth out about our son. He was a good man”.
“We are heartbroken but also very angry,” they said, reports RTE.
The shooting prompted hundreds of protesters to gather in the area to confront armed, masked agents, who responded by firing tear gas and flashbang grenades.
The Department of Homeland Security said a Border Patrol agent fired in self-defence after Mr Pretti, whom they said was carrying a handgun, resisted efforts to disarm him, reports RTE.
However, videos recorded by bystanders and verified by Reuters showed Mr Pretti holding a phone rather than a firearm as he attempted to assist other protesters who had been knocked to the ground by agents.
The footage shows one agent apparently spraying pepper spray at Mr Pretti and nearby demonstrators, reports RTE.
As Mr Pretti tries to shield himself from the spray and help others, several agents force him to the ground and strike him repeatedly in the head and body.
While restraining Mr Pretti on the ground, one agent draws a weapon and multiple shots are fired. His body is later visible lying in the street, reports RTE.
State officials were already in conflict with President Donald Trump’s administration following the fatal shooting of another US citizen by federal immigration officers.
Authorities have said an immigration agent acted in self-defence when he shot Ms Good on 7 January, reports RTE.
They have declined to permit local officials to take part in the investigation into that incident.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters that Mr Pretti had assaulted agents during an immigration raid, though she did not clarify whether he had drawn his weapon, reports RTE.
“He wasn’t there to peacefully protest. He was there to perpetuate violence,” Ms Noem said at a news conference, reports RTE.
One of the local officials who strongly challenged that version of events was Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
“I’ve seen the video from several angles and it’s sickening,” Mr Walz said, reports RTE.
“The federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation – the state will handle it,” reports RTE.
Drew Evans, head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said federal agents prevented his team from starting an investigation the previous day.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the man who was killed legally owned his firearm and had no criminal history beyond traffic offences, reports RTE.
As demonstrations continued, city police officers and state troopers were deployed to control the crowds.
Tensions appeared to ease once federal agents withdrew from the area, though demonstrators remained in the streets for several hours afterward, reports RTE.
Local leaders appealed for calm. “Please do not destroy our city,” Mr O’Hara said, reports RTE.
In a statement, Minneapolis officials said National Guard troops would assist local police at the shooting site at the request of city leaders to the governor.
The nearby Minneapolis Institute of Art announced it was closing for the day due to safety concerns, while the National Basketball Association postponed a Minnesota Timberwolves game, reports RTE.
Mr Walz and other city and state leaders called for an immediate halt to the Trump administration’s local immigration enforcement actions.
“How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said at a press conference, reports RTE.
Mr Trump accused locally elected officials of inflaming tensions.
“The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric,” he wrote on social media, reports RTE.
Vice President JD Vance, who visited Minneapolis on Thursday, accused local leaders of failing to provide police support to immigration officers.
Governor Walz strongly rejected that claim, saying the immigration crackdown has placed heavy strain on local law enforcement resources, reports RTE.
The shooting occurred a day after more than 10,000 people marched through the city in freezing conditions to protest the crackdown.
Residents had already expressed outrage over several incidents, including Ms Good’s killing, the detention of a US citizen taken from his home wearing only shorts, and the arrest of schoolchildren, including a five-year-old boy, reports RTE.
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