Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and lawful firearm owner, was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, while filming a federal immigration operation. Although federal officials claim Pretti brandished a handgun, verified video analysis from multiple news organizations indicates he was holding a cell phone and was shot at least ten times while pinned to the ground.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (3-minute read) — The city of Minneapolis is currently a flashpoint for a massive constitutional crisis following the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the local Veterans Affairs hospital. On the morning of January 24, 2026, the incident, which occurred at the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, has sparked nationwide protests and a potential government shutdown as local and federal narratives clash over the legality of the force used.
Pretti, a 2011 graduate of the University of Minnesota and a member of the American Federation of Government Employees, was a lawful gun owner with an active Minnesota concealed carry permit. Witnesses and bystander videos depict a scene where Pretti was filming federal agents who were attempting to enter a local business. When agents became physical with a woman in the crowd, Pretti moved to assist her, only to be pepper-sprayed and tackled by approximately six agents.
Understanding where you can legally carry a firearm is essential for every responsible gun owner, especially when traveling. Our concealed carry reciprocity map gives you an instant, easy-to-read view of…
Understanding duty to inform laws is crucial for anyone who carries a concealed firearm, whether you carry with a permit or under permitless (constitutional) carry. These laws dictate when, how,…
When it comes to self-defense, where you’re standing matters. Some states give armed citizens clear Stand Your Ground protections , while others still follow traditional duty-to-retreat rules in public. On…
Understanding Castle Doctrine laws and the various castle doctrine states is essential for gun owners who want to know their legal rights when defending themselves at home, in an occupied…
The Discrepancy Between Video Evidence and Official Accounts
While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that Pretti “approached” agents with a handgun, a frame-by-frame analysis by The New York Times, Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal suggests otherwise. These investigations found that Pretti was holding a cell phone in his right hand and nothing in his left hand in the moments before he was tackled. Footage appears to show a federal officer removing a handgun from the scuffle after Pretti was already on the ground, immediately followed by two other agents firing at least ten rounds into the nurse over a five-second period.
Despite a judicial warrant, DHS officials reportedly blocked local Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators from the scene for several hours, further straining the relationship between city and federal authorities.
A Family and Community in Mourning
Pretti’s parents have released a scathing statement calling the administration’s version of events “reprehensible and disgusting,” urging the public to push back against claims that their son was a “domestic terrorist”. Neighbors and colleagues remember Pretti as a warmhearted professional who was deeply concerned about the federal crackdown in his city. The shooting has not only resulted in a federal Department of Justice investigation but has also led Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to vow to block spending packages that include funding for DHS.
Safety Tip: For concealed carry licensees, participating in protests where federal law enforcement is present carries extreme risk. If you are a lawful carrier in a volatile environment, prioritize extreme distance, keep your hands empty and visible, and avoid interjecting yourself into physical scuffles between agents and other individuals to prevent a lethal misunderstanding.