A 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse was shot and killed by federal law enforcement officers in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, city officials confirmed.
The man, later identified by his parents as Alex Pretti, was involved in a confrontation with Department of Homeland Security agents during a targeted enforcement operation in the Whittier neighborhood. Authorities say he approached officers with a handgun and resisted efforts to disarm him, prompting an agent to fire “defensive shots.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described Pretti as a lawful gun owner with no serious criminal record beyond minor traffic violations. DHS officials said the operation was part of a broader immigration crackdown.
The shooting reignited tensions in the city already shaken by recent federal-involved violence, drawing hundreds of protesters to the scene. Demonstrators blocked streets and clashed with agents, with authorities deploying tear gas in attempts to disperse the crowds.
State officials have called for calm and an independent investigation into the incident. Federal and local law enforcement have not released body-camera footage, and details about the exact sequence of events remain under review.