A federal immigration officer fatally shot a 37-year-old man, identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. The incident occurred during a federal immigration enforcement operation, igniting a series of protests in a city already reeling from another recent shooting by federal agents involving a different victim, Renee Good.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed the shooting but did not provide extensive details surrounding it. Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse, was reportedly armed at the time of the shooting. However, bystander footage appears to show him unarmed as he approached officers, trying to protect another woman amid chaos. His family described him as a "kindhearted soul" who wanted to make a difference, challenging the narrative presented by federal authorities.
On the night of the shooting, protests erupted in the frigid cold, with hundreds gathering to honor Pretti. Demonstrators called for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding and expressed their outrage over what they described as federal overreach and violence. Many participants carried lit candles and chanted slogans in memory of Pretti and Renee Good, highlighting the growing tensions between immigrant communities and federal agents.
In response to the protests, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activated the National Guard to support local law enforcement. This action aimed to maintain order amid escalating tensions and protests that had been ongoing since the earlier shooting of Good. Law enforcement agencies faced scrutiny for their methods and the escalation of violence during immigration operations. Various lawmakers, including Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Ilhan Omar, issued statements condemning the shootings and calling for an investigation into federal actions in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus also expressed concerns regarding the incident, calling for transparency and an independent investigation due to the lack of evidence supporting the claims of threat against ICE officers. Meanwhile, a statement from the Department of Homeland Security indicated that the shots were fired defensively, asserting that Pretti had resisted attempts to disarm him, a claim contested by numerous witnesses.
Suited political reactions included calls from congressional Democrats for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and demands for ICE to cease its operations in Minnesota. Some Democratic senators signaled their opposition to future funding of the Department of Homeland Security unless stricter regulations on ICE were applied. Vice President JD Vance criticized local officials for not cooperating with ICE, while community support continued with local businesses offering resources to protesters as they gathered to mourn and demand justice.
The situation remains fluid, with both state and federal investigations underway into the events surrounding the shooting of Alex Pretti. The community's outrage and protests signal a significant shift in public sentiment regarding immigration enforcement and federal presence in Minnesota, drawing national attention to the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and immigrant rights advocates.
