Minneapolis ICU Nurse Fatally Shot by Border Patrol After Series of Confrontations with ICE Agents
The city of Minneapolis has been rocked by a second fatal shooting of a protestor this month, following the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse. Pretti was gunned down by a US Border Patrol agent during a scuffle at a rally against former President Donald Trump's immigration policies on January 24. This incident occurred just weeks after Renee Nicole Good, a mother-of-three, was shot dead by an ICE agent in the same city on January 7, highlighting a troubling pattern of violence in the region.
Escalating Tensions: Pretti's Prior Clashes with Federal Officers
In the weeks leading up to his death, Alex Pretti was involved in at least two violent skirmishes with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, as documented in bystander videos and reports. These confrontations shed light on the escalating tensions between protestors and federal authorities in Minneapolis.
January 13: A Heated Exchange Captured on Camera
On January 13, Pretti was filmed daring ICE agents who were armed with pepper spray to "soak me, motherf***er". The footage shows him shouting expletives at the officers, including calling one a "pepper spray b****" and "f***ing trash". As the agents attempted to leave in their SUVs, Pretti kicked the vehicle, resulting in a damaged taillight. Multiple agents then converged on him, leading to a physical altercation while tear gas and pepper balls were fired into the crowd. Pretti, who appeared to have a gun in his waistband, eventually retrieved his belongings and walked away.
Max Shapiro, a Minneapolis tax attorney who filmed the incident, described the scene as initially "orderly and calm" until Pretti's actions sparked chaos. Shapiro noted that he was part of a group monitoring ICE activity near his son's daycare, reflecting the community's heightened vigilance.
January 17: A Violent Tackle and Broken Rib
Just four days later, on January 17, Pretti suffered a broken rib after being tackled to the ground by five ICE agents during another protest. According to a source speaking to CNN, Pretti had stopped his car upon seeing officers chase a family on foot. He allegedly began shouting and blowing a whistle, prompting the agents to subdue him violently. One officer leaned on his back, causing the injury, yet Pretti was released at the scene. This incident reportedly kept him on federal agents' radar, as documents revealed instructions to collect information on protestors in Minneapolis.
The Fatal Shooting on January 24
One week later, on January 24, Pretti's life was cut short in a deadly encounter with Border Patrol agents. Multiple bystander videos captured a roughly 30-second scuffle around 9am, culminating in an agent shooting Pretti. The footage appears to contradict statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which claimed the shots were fired "defensively" as Pretti "approached" with a gun. In the videos, Pretti is seen holding only a phone, with no visible weapon, though agents later discovered a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun on his person.
A federal judge has since issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the Trump administration from destroying evidence related to Pretti's death. It remains unconfirmed whether his gun discharged any shots during the altercation.
Political Fallout and Labeling
In the aftermath, Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem quickly labeled Pretti a domestic terrorist, a designation not echoed by Trump himself. The former president appointed Border Czar Tom Homan to oversee the Minnesota operation, replacing Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino. This move underscores the political sensitivities surrounding immigration enforcement and protestor deaths in the United States.
The tragic events in Minneapolis raise serious questions about the use of force by federal agents and the safety of individuals exercising their right to protest. As investigations continue, the community mourns the loss of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, calling for accountability and transparency in these deadly incidents.
