Family Demands Truth After Federal Officer Kills Minneapolis Nurse
The grieving family of a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse shot dead by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis has launched a fierce condemnation of what they describe as "sickening lies" propagated by the Trump administration about their son. Alex Pretti, who cared for US veterans at the Minneapolis VA hospital, was fatally wounded on Friday, sparking outrage and protests across the city.
Contested Accounts of the Fatal Incident
According to official statements from the Department of Homeland Security, Mr Pretti was allegedly carrying a semi-automatic handgun and two magazines of ammunition at the time of the shooting. Authorities implied he intended to "do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement". However, these claims stand in stark contrast to video evidence and eyewitness accounts that have emerged in the aftermath.
In multiple bystander videos circulating online, Mr Pretti is clearly visible holding a mobile phone, with no apparent weapon in his hands. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara has stated that police believe the deceased was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry, though he acknowledged that information about the events leading up to the shooting remains limited.
Family's Emotional Outcry
In a powerful statement released to the media, Mr Pretti's family portrayed him as a "kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends". They vehemently disputed the administration's narrative, asserting: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs."
The family further claimed that Mr Pretti had been attempting to protect a woman who had been pushed by federal officers moments before the shooting, with both his hands visible throughout the encounter. This version of events adds another layer of complexity to an already polarising incident.
Escalating Tensions in Minneapolis
The shooting has ignited fresh turmoil in a city already grappling with heightened tensions following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by immigration officers just weeks earlier. Hundreds of demonstrators braved freezing conditions to attend a vigil for Mr Pretti, while angry crowds clashed with federal officers who deployed batons and flash bang grenades to disperse protesters.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called on President Trump to "pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now", describing the situation as "sickening" and declaring that "Minnesota has had it". The Minnesota National Guard has been deployed to assist local police at the governor's direction, with Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey requesting that troops wear reflective vests to distinguish them from other agencies.
Conflicting Official Narratives
The political fallout has been immediate and divisive. Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino claimed at a news conference that federal law enforcement had been under "constant attack" in Minneapolis for weeks. Meanwhile, DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin alleged on social media that a protester had "bit off" an officer's finger, sharing graphic images of the purported injury.
President Trump has amplified these claims, sharing an image of what immigration officials described as the recovered weapon and referring to Mr Pretti as a "gunman". In an online post, he questioned: "This is the gunman's gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go - What is that all about?" The president has also accused Minneapolis's Democratic leadership of "inciting Insurrection" with their rhetoric.
Colleagues Defend Character of Deceased
Those who knew Mr Pretti have rallied to defend his character. Robert Alver, a former colleague from a university science lab, described him as "everything you would want in a colleague and a friend". Fighting back tears, Mr Alver criticised DHS secretary Kristi Noem's questioning of why Mr Pretti was armed, stating emphatically: "There is no way on God's green Earth that he would ever be going anywhere to hurt somebody. He would had to have had a complete personality transplant."
As investigations continue and protests persist, the tragic death of Alex Pretti has become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate about immigration enforcement, police accountability, and political polarisation in the United States.
