Nurse Killed by Border Patrol Agents Despite Videos Showing Phone,Not Gun

Federal Border Patrol agents fatally shot 37-year-old Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti on January 24, 2026, during immigration operations in the Whittier neighborhood, despite video evidence showing he held a phone rather than brandishing a weapon.  Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed Pretti was a U.S. citizen with no criminal record and a valid permit for his concealed 9mm handgun, which agents secured before firing at least 10 shots into his back and while he lay pinned on the ground. 

Incident Timeline

Pretti intervened when agents pepper-sprayed a woman, holding his phone in one hand and nothing visible in the other, according to verified social media videos analyzed by multiple outlets.  Agents then sprayed him, tackled him to the sidewalk, removed his concealed gun, and two others opened fire less than a second later without apparent knowledge of the disarming.  The episode unfolded amid aggressive federal immigration raids, the third such fatal shooting in Minneapolis this month, following Renee Good’s death on January 7. 

Federal vs. Local Accounts

President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem portrayed Pretti as a domestic terrorist intent on a “massacre,” claiming he “violently resisted” with a semiautomatic handgun and extra magazines, though videos show no drawn weapon or aggression.  DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin echoed this, alleging he approached during a targeted operation against an illegal alien suspect, but local officials note limited information sharing from feds. Trump blamed city leaders for sidelining police, posting images of the gun on Truth Social. 

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Investigation Hurdles

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension head Drew Evans reported federal agents blocked state investigators from the public sidewalk scene, forcing a rare search warrant that proved ineffective amid clashes. ​ DHS and FBI will self-investigate the shooting, with senior officials preemptively faulting Pretti and locals. ​ Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey accused the Trump administration of terrorizing the city, questioning how many more deaths are needed to halt operations. ​

Protests and Tributes

Hundreds braved subzero temperatures for a vigil in Whittier Park, with protests turning chaotic; federal agents used tear gas and flash bangs, prompting Governor Tim Walz to deploy the National Guard.  Colleagues at the Veterans Affairs hospital remembered Pretti as a smiling, helpful friend dedicated to humanity, with no signs of extremism.  Demonstrations remained mostly peaceful but highlighted breaking tensions after weeks of federal actions.