A paediatric doctor who attempted to provide emergency medical assistance to a protester shot by federal agents in Minneapolis has made a shocking declaration that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel were counting bullet holes in the victim's body rather than administering critical life-saving measures.
Sworn Declaration Reveals Disturbing Scene
In a sworn declaration submitted as part of a lawsuit challenging ICE's use of force in Minnesota, the unnamed physician described approaching the scene where 37-year-old Alex Pretti lay wounded. "As I approached, I saw that the victim was lying on his side and was surrounded by several ICE agents," the doctor wrote. "I was confused as to why the victim was on his side, because that is not standard practice when a victim has been shot."
The medical professional, who has been living in Minneapolis since 2024 while completing a paediatric residency, observed that instead of following standard emergency protocols, the federal agents appeared focused on assessing the number of gunshot wounds. "Checking for a pulse and administering CPR is standard practice. Instead of doing either of those things, the ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds," the declaration states.
Critical Delay in Medical Response
When the doctor asked the agents whether Pretti had a pulse, they responded that they did not know. The physician then discovered the victim had "at least three bullet wounds in his back" with additional injuries visible in his upper chest and neck area when he was turned over. Finding no detectable pulse, the doctor immediately began CPR until emergency medical services personnel arrived to take over.
"None of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, and I could tell that the victim was in critical condition," the declaration continues. "I insisted that the agents let me assess him. Normally, I would not have been so persistent, but as a physician, I felt a professional and moral obligation to help this man, especially since none of the agents were helping him."
Barriers to Providing Medical Assistance
The doctor's account reveals significant obstacles were placed between medical professionals and the wounded man. Agents initially refused access, repeatedly demanding to see a physician's license and conducting a pat-down search to ensure the doctor wasn't carrying weapons before allowing approach to the critically injured protester.
Video evidence of the incident shows Pretti attempting to assist a female protester while filming federal agents before being thrown to the ground, beaten, and then shot. According to the doctor's eyewitness account, there was "absolutely no need for violence" based on what they observed.
Victim Was Healthcare Professional
In a tragic twist, Alex Pretti was himself an experienced healthcare professional who had obtained his nursing license in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked as an ICU nurse for the Department of Veterans' Affairs, providing healthcare services to military veterans.
"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," Michael Pretti, Alex's father, told the Associated Press. "He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others."
Psychological Impact on Witnessing Doctor
The traumatic incident left the attending physician severely distressed. "I returned home extremely distraught," the declaration reveals. "I was sobbing and shaking uncontrollably." After tear gas deployed outside began drifting into their home, the doctor decided to leave their apartment and stay with relatives for safety.
"I am devastated by the killing of a Minnesotan by multiple federal immigration agents," the doctor wrote. "From what I could tell, the victim was not actively threatening ICE agents or the public – he was just yelling at the agents because he objected to ICE's presence in our city. A person should not be shot and killed for lawfully expressing their opinions."
Broader Safety Concerns Raised
The declaration expresses profound concerns about public safety in Minneapolis, noting that ICE agents have shot and killed two protesters within a single month. "I do not feel safe in my city," the doctor stated. "I worry that I or someone I love will be shot and killed for voicing their displeasure and being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
The Independent has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment regarding these serious allegations about ICE agents' conduct during the Minneapolis protest incident.
