A federal civil rights investigation has been launched into the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis last weekend. The Department of Justice confirmed the probe on Thursday, marking a significant escalation in what has quickly become a flashpoint case.
Pretti, who worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs treating former military personnel, was shot multiple times on January 24, 2026, near the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis’ Whittier neighborhood. The incident occurred during what officials have described as part of a broader immigration enforcement operation in the area, though questions remain about why agents confronted Pretti, a U.S. citizen with no apparent connection to immigration matters.
Attorney General Merrick Garland called the investigation a standard response “when there are circumstances like what we saw last Saturday.” The statement offers little comfort to community members who have staged nightly vigils at the site where Pretti died.
Questions Mount as Community Reels
How did an ICU nurse end up dead at the hands of federal agents? That’s the question haunting Minneapolis residents and Pretti’s colleagues at the VA Medical Center, where his locker has become an impromptu memorial covered with notes and photos.
According to a preliminary timeline documented by investigators, two Customs and Border Protection agents discharged their weapons after an alleged confrontation, though the exact nature of that confrontation remains disputed. Neither agent was wearing a body camera, adding to the controversy surrounding the case.
The killing has sparked outrage across Minneapolis, a city still recovering from the social upheaval following George Floyd’s murder in 2020. Community leaders have questioned the presence of Border Patrol agents operating deep within the U.S. interior, particularly in a neighborhood with a significant immigrant population.
“We’re talking about a nurse who saved lives for a living,” said Maria Gonzalez, a community organizer who knew Pretti through volunteer work. “Someone who treated veterans with dignity has been denied that same dignity in death.”
Part of Larger Immigration Operation
The fatal shooting occurred during what authorities have confirmed was part of a coordinated immigration enforcement action taking place across several Midwestern states. Border Patrol officials initially declined to provide details about the operation, citing ongoing investigations.
Pretti’s family has retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who issued a statement calling the shooting “an inexcusable use of deadly force against an unarmed American citizen.” The family is expected to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the federal government.
Customs and Border Protection has placed both agents involved on administrative leave, which is standard protocol following use-of-force incidents. The agency released a brief statement expressing condolences to Pretti’s family while declining further comment during the investigation.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has demanded transparency from federal authorities. “Our community deserves answers about why Border Patrol was operating in our city and how this tragic loss of life occurred,” he said at a press conference Wednesday.
For those who knew Pretti, the circumstances of his death stand in stark contrast to how he lived. A colleague described him as “the nurse you’d want caring for your own family member” — dedicated, compassionate, and meticulous in his work with veterans suffering from critical illnesses.
As the DOJ investigation proceeds, one thing remains clear: in a city that has become synonymous with conversations about policing and accountability, Alex Pretti’s name has now joined a somber list of those whose deaths have raised painful questions about who faces deadly force in America, and why.
