What we know about fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis

January 25, 2026

A federal Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis nurse and U.S. citizen, during an immigration enforcement operation on Saturday morning. The Department of Homeland Security claims agents fired in self-defense after Pretti, allegedly armed with a handgun, resisted disarming attempts, but eyewitness videos show him holding a phone while attempting to shield women from agents before being tackled by multiple officers and shot. Pretti's family and local officials, including the police chief and governor, have disputed the federal account, accusing the administration of lying about the incident.

Who is affected

Alex Pretti (37-year-old U.S. citizen, nurse, fatal victim)
Pretti's parents, Michael and Susan
Women bystanders who were pushed and pepper-sprayed by agents
Border Patrol agents involved in the operation
Minneapolis residents and community members
Minneapolis Police Department
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and local officials
Renee Nicole Good (previous fatal shooting victim mentioned for context)

What action is being taken

Border Patrol agents are carrying out immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis
Federal agents are conducting what they describe as "targeted" enforcement activities
Protests are occurring in response to the shooting
The Minneapolis Police Department is seeking details about the incident from DHS

Why it matters

This incident matters because it represents escalating tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local communities during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, with fundamental disputes about the use of lethal force against a U.S. citizen who was not the target of immigration enforcement. The stark contradiction between federal claims of self-defense and video evidence showing Pretti with a phone rather than a weapon raises serious questions about accountability, transparency, and the appropriate use of force by federal agents. This is the second fatal shooting by immigration agents in Minneapolis within two weeks, indicating a pattern that has fractured the relationship between federal and local authorities and eroded community trust in federal law enforcement operations.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC