Mother's Heartbreaking Tribute to Nurse Killed by Border Patrol on Would-Be 38th Birthday
Susan Pretti has shared a devastating tribute to her son Alex on what would have been his 38th birthday, following his fatal shooting by a Border Patrol agent during protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota earlier this year. The 37-year-old ICU nurse's death in January triggered widespread outrage and demonstrations across the United States, with conflicting narratives emerging about the circumstances of his killing.
A Life Cut Short and a Mother's Grief
Alex Pretti, a dedicated healthcare professional who worked with veterans at a VA hospital, was shot and killed during chaotic protests in Minneapolis. On Sunday, as his birthday passed, his mother Susan expressed her profound sorrow on Instagram, writing: 'Today should be your 38th birthday... When you lose your son, you lose more than a child. You lose a piece of your heart and your joy.'
She continued with poignant words: 'Life is forever altered and nothing can ever fill that space. Yet in my soul, he remains, my precious boy, forever loved. His laughter, his smile and his love are woven into who I am. My love for him will never fade. You are my pride and my joy. You've made a chance that cannot be broken.'
The grieving parents discovered their son's death through a journalist, adding another layer of trauma to their devastating loss.
Colleagues Remember a Protective and Dedicated Nurse
Those who worked alongside Pretti described him as an exceptional individual committed to helping others. Ruth Anway, a Minneapolis-based nurse who collaborated with him daily at the VA hospital, told the Daily Mail: 'He was an ICU nurse. He worked with veterans. He was a really good guy. He definitely did not deserve to get killed.'
Anway noted that Pretti was politically engaged and well-informed about current events, describing him as someone who 'was always keeping up with the news and always just really well informed about what was going on.'
Whitney Weisser, a 37-year-old colleague who attended nursing school with Pretti at Minnesota Technical & Community College from 2019 through 2021, remembered him as 'amazing' and 'one of the nicest people I've ever met.' She revealed that he had previously worked as a researcher but pursued nursing to make a more direct impact helping people.
'He was the most protective guy,' Weisser emotionally recalled. 'If any of us dealt with anything inappropriate from a patient or a coworker or anyone, he was there. He would always protect the person being bullied. That's what he was doing today, protecting a woman who was being bullied.'
Weisser emphasized that Pretti was 'smart as hell' and would not intentionally provoke conflict with law enforcement, believing instead that he was attempting to protect vulnerable individuals during the protests.
Conflicting Accounts of the Fatal Incident
The Department of Homeland Security provided an official account stating that agents were attempting to apprehend 'an illegal alien wanted for violent assault' when they encountered Pretti. According to DHS, Pretti was armed with a nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun and two magazines, and he 'violently resisted' when officers attempted to disarm him, leading to a Border Patrol agent firing the fatal shot.
However, viral footage from the scene appears to contradict this narrative. The videos show agents wrestling with Pretti and taking him to the ground, with Pretti holding only a phone in his hand at that moment. None of the available footage clearly shows him brandishing a weapon during the initial confrontation.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara later clarified that Pretti had no serious criminal history, with records showing only minor parking violations. O'Hara confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit for firearm possession.
Aftermath and Ongoing Controversy
Following the shooting, the two Border Patrol agents involved were placed on administrative leave. Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem quickly labeled Pretti a domestic terrorist, while a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Trump administration from 'destroying or altering evidence' related to Pretti's death.
The tragedy has become emblematic of broader tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States. Pretti's death marked another citizen fatality during protests against ICE in Minnesota, following the earlier shooting of Renee Nicole Good. Memorials featuring signs, flowers, and candles have appeared in Minneapolis, while demonstrators in Washington DC have carried pictures of both Good and Pretti during protests labeled 'March 4 Democracy.'
Large-scale protests erupted nationwide following Pretti's death, with participants expressing opposition to both ICE and the Trump administration's immigration policies. The case continues to raise serious questions about use of force, accountability, and the appropriate role of federal immigration agents in domestic protest situations.
