MINNEAPOLIS — On the morning of January 24, 2026 , 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti , a dedicated intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System , was fatally shot by United States Border Patrol agents during a federal enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. The killing has sparked national outrage, conflicting official accounts, and an outpouring of testimony from local witnesses and healthcare workers that challenges the government’s version of events. Who Was Alex Pretti? Pretti was known by friends, family, and colleagues as a compassionate caregiver and advocate for veterans. A graduate of the University of Minnesota nursing program, he began working in the VA’s ICU in 2021 and earned respect for his bedside manner and dedication to patient care. An avid outdoorsman and loyal friend, Pretti maintained close relationships with coworkers and students. In testimonials shared on social platforms by nurses and physicians who knew him, he is remember...