Last Updated on 1 minute ago by Vijay Kumar
The family of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, is remembering him as a compassionate, nonviolent man devoted to helping others, while demanding accountability and transparency from federal authorities.
Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, who live in Colorado, said they were devastated not only by their son’s death but also by how they learned about it. According to the family, they were first contacted by a reporter rather than law enforcement officials, a delay they described as deeply distressing during the most painful moment of their lives.
Statement from the family of Alex Pretti, Michael and Susan Pretti:
“We are heartbroken but also very angry.
Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA…
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 25, 2026
In public statements, the Prettis strongly rejected claims made by federal officials that their son posed a threat. They said Alex was known throughout his life for de-escalating conflict, caring for vulnerable people, and acting out of concern for others. The family stated that video footage and eyewitness accounts show him holding a cellphone and attempting to intervene to protect another person, not brandishing a weapon.
“Alex dedicated his life to saving people,” the family said in a written statement. “He was a nurse, a caregiver, and a person who believed deeply in nonviolence.” They described him as gentle, empathetic, and driven by a strong moral compass shaped by his upbringing.
Alex Pretti was born in Illinois and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where his parents say he developed an early sense of responsibility and compassion. Family members recall that he was active in school activities and community service before eventually choosing a career in healthcare. He later moved to Minnesota, where he worked as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, caring for critically ill veterans.
The Pretti family acknowledged that Alex legally owned a firearm, but stressed that he was a responsible gun owner and had no history of violence. They said portraying him as dangerous ignores his record, character, and the values he lived by. Public records show no criminal history beyond minor traffic violations.
Since his death, the family has called for an independent investigation into the actions of federal agents involved in the shooting. They say their goal is not political, but rooted in a desire for truth and accountability, so that no other family experiences a similar loss without answers.
As vigils and memorials continue in Minneapolis, Michael and Susan Pretti say they want their son to be remembered not for the circumstances of his death, but for the life he lived — as a son who stayed close to his parents, a caregiver who served others, and a person whose defining trait was compassion.
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
