Border Patrol agent fatally shoots Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has identified the man who was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday as one of its members, Alex Jeffrey Pretti.

Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Intensive Care Unit nurse, was shot early Saturday during an immigration enforcement operation targeting Jose Huerta-Chuma, an illegal immigrant with a criminal history including domestic assault for intentional combat, causing bodily harm, unlawful conduct and driving without a valid license.

Homeland Security officials said Pretti approached Border Patrol agents with a 9mm handgun and “violently resisted” them when they tried to disarm him.

Paramedics immediately provided aid, but Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting.

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State officials said Pretti had a legal carry permit (PTC).

Court records show his two-year marriage dissolved in 2023 with no children and no criminal record other than minor traffic violations.

The Department of Homeland Security is leading the investigation into the shooting with assistance from the FBI.

Pretti’s father, Michael, told Associated Press His son, a University of Minnesota graduate, began attending protests after Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, stating that he was “very saddened by what is happening with ICE in Minneapolis and throughout the United States.”

“He thought it was terrible to kidnap children, to take people off the street,” Michael Pretti said. “He cared about these people and knew it was wrong, so he joined the protests.”

His parents recently told him they wanted him to be careful and “not get busy” or “do anything stupid” while protesting.

“He said he knew that. He knew that,” Michael Pretti told the press.

This undated photo shows Alex J. Pretti, who was shot by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Saturday. (Michael Pretti via AP)

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The family said they were unaware of the shooting until a reporter contacted them and were unable to receive any information from the Border Patrol or local hospitals.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that their son’s body had been received, but his parents said they had not heard from any federal law enforcement agency as of Saturday night.

“The sickening lies told by the administration about our son are reprehensible and disgusting,” the family wrote in a statement obtained by the AP. “Alex was clearly not holding a gun when he was attacked by Trump’s murderous and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and had his empty left hand raised above his head as he tried to protect the woman ICE was pushing down while being pepper-sprayed. Please reveal the truth about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.”

AFGE said “many of the details remain unclear” as of Saturday night.

“Video of the incident has been circulating on social media, and the Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated that the victim pointed a gun at officers. However, this allegation is not made clear based on the currently available video,” AFGE wrote.

“This is a developing and extremely serious matter and it is important that we refrain from speculating or jumping to conclusions until we can verify the facts.

“What we do know is this: A member of our union lost his life today, and that alone is devastating. Our hearts are heavy and we are deeply affected by this tragedy that has befallen one of our own. Until more information becomes available, I urge everyone to remain calm and maintain peace and restraint in all communications and actions.”

Former Vice President Kamala Harris responded to the X shooting by saying she was “outraged and heartbroken.”

“Alex Jeffrey Pretti was a critical care nurse at a VA hospital. His life was dedicated to serving his community and our country through his profession,” Harris wrote in a post. “As many people saw in the video, his final act before he was killed by federal agents was to do everything he could to protect his community.

“Alex and tens of thousands of Minnesotans bravely defended their neighbors against the bloody occupation of an American city by the federal government. I am outraged and heartbroken on behalf of Alex, his family, Minneapolis, and America.”

Federal agents sealed off the shooting site as crowds gathered in Minneapolis on Saturday. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Joint Defense Civilian ParticipationThe nation’s largest grassroots organization of veterans and military families released a statement after the shooting, saying Pretti “should still be alive.”

“This is not normal. Yesterday, more than 50,000 Minneapolis residents participated in a peaceful general strike against this authoritarian extremism. And today, federal agents shot and killed another person in the street,” said Jacob Thomas, Joint Defense communications director, Air Force veteran and Minneapolis resident.

“It’s clear that ICE and DHS are out of control. We call for the immediate suspension of all ICE operations in Minnesota and across the country before more of our neighbors are killed by Trump’s power of intimidation,” he added.

“As veterans sworn to this country and the Constitution, we call on every American to stand up against Trump’s lawlessness and reject the invasion of our beloved communities.”

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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said he shares the Trump administration’s “intense pain and outrage” over the fatal shooting of another Minnesotan during Operation Metro Surge.

He added that his office will file a lawsuit in court on Monday to end “this illegal and unconstitutional occupation of our cities and the terrorism and violence it engenders.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is an evolving story. Check back for updates.