The West Haven Post Mourns VA ICU Nurse Alex Pretti
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Alex Jeffrey Pretti (1988–2026) was a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center who was shot and killed by federal immigration agents on January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. His death became a national flashpoint, sparking widespread protests and federal civil rights investigations.
Background and Career
- Early Life: Born in Park Ridge, Illinois, and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was a Boy Scout and athlete at Preble High School.
- Education: Earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, society, and environment from the University of Minnesota in 2011.
- Nursing: Became a registered nurse in 2021 and worked in the ICU at the Minneapolis VA, where colleagues and patients remembered him as compassionate and ethical.
Fatal Incident and Controversy
- The Shooting: On January 24, Pretti was recording federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation. Bystander videos show him intervening to shield a woman shoved by an agent. He was pepper-sprayed, tackled, and shot multiple times.
- Conflicting Accounts: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially claimed Pretti "brandished" a gun to "massacre" officers. However, video evidence showed a federal agent disarmed Pretti—who was a legal gun owner with a valid permit—before the shots were fired.
- Political Fallout: President Trump labeled Pretti an "agitator" and "insurrectionist" following the release of video from a separate confrontation 11 days prior. Pretti's family denounced these claims as "sickening lies".
Aftermath
- Investigations: The Department of Justice (DOJ) opened a federal civil rights investigation, and the FBI is leading the probe into the shooting.
- Shooters Identified: The agents who fired were identified as Border Patrol Agent Jesus Ochoa and CBPO Raymundo Gutierrez.
- National Impact: His death intensified criticism of the Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge" and led to a significant drawdown of federal personnel in Minneapolis by February 2026.
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