Family of Minneapolis Shooting Victim Accuses Trump Administration of ‘Sickening Lies’
The family of a Minneapolis nurse shot dead by federal immigration agents has accused the Trump administration of spreading “reprehensible and disgusting” falsehoods, insisting that video evidence shows their son was unarmed and trying to protect a woman when he was killed.
The victim, identified in media reports and social media as Alex Pretti, was a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital. He was shot by US immigration agents during a confrontation in Minneapolis on Sunday, prompting fresh protests and renewed political debate. The Department of Homeland Security said a Border Patrol agent fired in self-defence after a man allegedly resisted attempts to disarm him.
Pretti’s family rejected the official account, saying in a statement: “We are heartbroken but also very angry. Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family, friends, and the veterans he treated. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. His last thought and act was to protect a woman.”
The family also alleged that the official narrative contradicts bystander footage: “The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked… He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed.”
Verified videos show Pretti filming immigration agents with his cellphone as tensions escalate. One agent appears to deploy pepper spray, and several rush Pretti, wrestle him to the ground, and strike him. While he is restrained, an agent draws a firearm and multiple shots are fired.
The shooting triggered hundreds of protesters in the neighbourhood. Masked federal agents responded with tear gas and flashbang grenades to disperse crowds.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Minnesota officials and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. Earlier this month, federal agents shot another US citizen, 37-year-old Renee Good, in a separate incident. Trump has accused local leaders of inflaming resistance to federal agents, while Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has highlighted the strain on local law enforcement caused by the immigration crackdown.
Protests have drawn thousands to the streets following multiple federal enforcement actions, including the detention of US citizens and schoolchildren, sparking widespread concern among residents.
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