Minneapolis ICU Nurse Fatally Shot by Federal Agents During Protests
The Minnesota man fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday has been identified as Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse who worked in the intensive care unit at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. This marks the second fatal shooting in the city this month amid a major federal crackdown in Minnesota.
Dedicated Healthcare Professional Remembered
According to his LinkedIn profile, Pretti attended nursing school at the University of Minnesota, where he began working as a junior scientist in 2012. He obtained his nursing license in 2021, which was active through 2026, and had assisted on scientific research as recently as 2016.
Dimitri Drekonja, chief of infectious diseases at the VA hospital and professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, worked closely with Pretti both at the hospital and on research projects. "He wanted to help people," Drekonja told the Guardian. "He was a super nice, super helpful guy – looked after his patients. I'm just stunned."
Drekonja described Pretti as an "outstanding" nurse with an "infectious" spirit who was quick with a joke and always willing to support his colleagues. "He was such a good dude. I just love working with him," Drekonja added.
Family Confirms Protest Involvement
Michael Pretti, Alex's father, confirmed to the Associated Press that his son had participated in protests following the killing of Renee Good by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer earlier this month. "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," the elder Pretti said.
"He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others," Michael Pretti explained, adding that the family had recently warned their son about being careful during demonstrations. "We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically. And he said he knows that. He knew that."
Video Evidence Emerges from Incident
Videos circulating online from Saturday show Pretti directing traffic and filming federal agents, with his right hand holding up his phone and his left hand empty. Additional footage appears to show him being wrestled to the ground by several law enforcement officers before being shot multiple times.
Other videos depict Pretti seemingly coming to the defense of a legal observer who was shoved to the ground by a federal officer. That officer then sprays Pretti with a chemical agent repeatedly before tackling him to the street along with other agents.
Drekonja commented on the footage, saying "From what I can see, he was trying to help pull someone away, which is just totally in character for him."
Research Contributions and Personal Passions
During his nursing school years, Drekonja hired Pretti to help support a study on preventing C diff, a devastating bacterial infection. "He was instrumental in completing our trial," Drekonja recalled. "He was always asking the rest of the team what he could do. He was always trying to do what he could to free up space for others."
Outside of his medical work, Pretti loved mountain biking and frequently discussed trail riding with Drekonja. "He found humor in life, and that's what's just so sad about seeing this," Drekonja said. "It's just a huge tragedy."
Law Enforcement Details Emerge
Police chief Brian O'Hara stated during a Saturday press conference that Pretti's only known previous interaction with law enforcement was for traffic tickets. O'Hara also noted that Pretti was "a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry."
The shooting represents the latest violent incident in Minneapolis during what has become an increasingly tense period of federal intervention in Minnesota, with this month alone witnessing two fatal shootings and another non-fatal incident.
