3 Photos of Alex Pretti: The ICU Nurse Killed by Border Patrol Agent
The calm of a Saturday morning in South Minneapolis was shattered by gunfire as federal agents, deployed as part of a national immigration crackdown, fatally shot a local resident. The victim, later identified as 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, was not a fugitive but a dedicated intensive care unit nurse.This incident has ignited a firestorm of protest and political debate, as a city already mourning a previous federal shooting now demands answers for the death of a man described by colleagues as a kind person. As investigators and politicians trade accusations, the community is left to grapple with the loss of a frontline worker whose life ended on the very streets he was trying to protect.Who Is Alex Pretti: From ICU to ActivismAlex Jeffrey Pretti was a registered nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, specialising in intensive care. He was a graduate of the University of Minnesota who attended Green Bay's Preble High School and graduated in 2006, where he used to perform in musicals.His colleagues remembered him for his kindness and sense of humour. Pretti was also reportedly committed to his profession and loved the outdoors, often going on adventures with Joule, his Catahoula Leopard dog, who passed away recently. 'He wanted to be helpful, to help humanity and have a career that was a force of good in the world,' Ruth Anway told reporters. Another colleague, Dimitri Drekonja, added, 'The default look on his face was a smile.'Pretti had no criminal history beyond minor parking tickets. His father, however, admitted that the recent events in the neighbourhood affected him, so he supported the protests. '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,' his father, Michael Pretti, said. 'He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others.'
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American Nurses Association Calls for 'Full, Unencumbered Investigation'The American Nurses Association reacted with profound sorrow and indignation following the news of Pretti's fatal shooting. The organisation released a formal statement highlighting the tragic irony of a nurse—a person dedicated to saving lives—becoming a victim of state violence. The organisation joined local leaders in calling for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to the use of deadly force against a member of their profession.'ANA condemns violence in our communities. The seriousness of this incident and others demand transparency and accountability,' the statement read. 'ANA calls for a full, unencumbered investigation, and urges that findings be shared promptly and clearly so Alex's loved ones and the public have answers.' The organisation also expressed concern about the safety of nurses amid a rise in incidents involving federal agents in the state.
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Conflicting Accounts of the Fatal ShootingThe fatal encounter began on the morning of 24th January, occurring just over a mile from the site where Renee Good was killed by federal agents on 7th January. According to Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, Pretti had a gun with two magazines when he approached the agents. He allegedly resisted when the officers attempted to disarm him, prompting officers to fire defensive shots.Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol Commander-At-Large Greg Bovino justified the fatal shooting, saying the ICU nurse carried a gun. Footage from the incident only showed the Border Patrol agents tackling Pretti on the ground, but there was no gun in his hands. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said Pretti had a valid permit to carry a firearm. The state allows one to carry a handgun in public and does not require them to conceal the weapon, so long as they obtain a permit to carry.Pretti is the latest victim of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota. On Friday, hundreds of businesses shut down in support of the 'ICE Out of Minnesota' protest. The administration, however, has not responded to the calls to remove the thousands of federal agents in the state.
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