Remembering Alex Pretti

Alex Jeffrey Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse. He worked at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis, caring for veterans during some of the hardest moments of their lives. He was known by colleagues as steady, compassionate, and deeply committed to his patients.

Before anything else, Alex was a caregiver. Nursing was not just his job. It was his calling.

Who He Was

Alex earned his nursing degree from the University of Minnesota and built his career in critical care. At the VA hospital, he worked in the intensive care unit, supporting veterans and their families through life-threatening illness and recovery.

Friends and coworkers described him as calm under pressure and generous with his time. He loved the outdoors, cycling, and being in community with people he cared about. Those close to him say he believed in standing up for others and showing up when it mattered.

He was the kind of nurse you hope is in the room when things feel overwhelming.

What Happened

On the morning of January 24, 2026, Alex was shot and killed in Minneapolis during a federal immigration enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Federal authorities initially stated that Alex approached agents with a handgun and posed a threat. They later confirmed that he was a lawful gun owner with a Minnesota permit to carry.

Video footage recorded by bystanders and reviewed by multiple news outlets shows Alex holding a phone and filming the encounter. The video appears to show him being pepper-sprayed, restrained, and then shot. His family disputes the claim that he threatened officers and says he was attempting to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed during the operation.

The incident remains under investigation.

The Response

News of Alex’s death spread quickly across Minnesota and beyond. Vigils and protests formed in Minneapolis as community members called for transparency and accountability. Nursing organizations and healthcare workers expressed grief and outrage, emphasizing the loss of a nurse whose life was devoted to healing. Many pointed out the painful contradiction of losing someone who spent his career caring for others. Public officials and civil rights groups have called for a full and independent review of the incident.

A Call to Care. And to Ask Better Questions. 

Nurses are trained to move toward harm, not away from it. We are taught to assess, intervene, protect, and help before we ask whether it is convenient. That instinct does not switch off when a shift ends. Alex lived that instinct. His parents have said their son believed deeply in helping others and standing up when something felt wrong. They remember him as someone who led with empathy and believed people deserved care, dignity, and safety. That is how he lived. That is how he showed up in the world.

As nurses, we recognize this immediately. The reflex to help. The need to step in. The belief that doing nothing is sometimes the most dangerous option. Honoring Alex means more than remembering his name. It means demanding transparency. It means supporting independent investigations. It means protecting those who act out of care rather than fear.

If you are a nurse, speak up. If you are a healthcare leader, advocate for accountability. If you are a community member, stay engaged and ask questions until answers are clear. Alex Pretti spent his life caring for others. The least we can do is care enough to ensure his story is told fully, truthfully, and with the dignity he gave to so many.