(Minneapolis, January 25, 2026) — A 37-year-old man was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, sparking outrage and questions about the use of force amid an ongoing surge in federal immigration enforcement. Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, was identified as the man killed.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated the agent acted in self-defense after attempting to disarm Pretti, but Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called that account “nonsense” after reviewing videos of the shooting. “What I see with my eyes and what you’re going to see with your eyes makes that pretty hard to believe,” Walz said.
- Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.
- Videos from the scene appear to show Pretti holding a cellphone, not a weapon, when he was shot.
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz disputes the DHS’s claim that the shooting was in self-defense.
- The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) says DHS representatives blocked access to the shooting scene despite a valid search warrant.
The Shooting and Conflicting Accounts
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According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, agents fired “defensive shots” after “an individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.” McLaughlin stated the officers attempted to disarm the individual, but the person “violently resisted.”
However, videos from the scene, verified by CBS News, show Pretti holding a phone in his right hand and nothing in his left before he was shot. The videos also show a federal agent in a gray jacket reaching into a scuffle empty-handed and emerging with a gun, turning away from Pretti when the first shot is fired, then running across the street as more shots are fired.
Minnesota officials said Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry and had no criminal record.
Official Reactions and Legal Challenges
Gov. Walz called on the Trump administration to pull ICE agents from Minneapolis, characterizing their efforts as an “absolute abomination.”
Pretti’s family released a statement describing him as “a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.” They condemned what they called “sickening lies told about our son by the administration,” stating he was holding a phone, not a gun, during the encounter.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) stated that DHS representatives blocked them from accessing the scene of the shooting, even though the bureau had obtained a judge’s signed search warrant.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced his office will argue in court on Monday to end the ongoing immigration surge in Minnesota. The City of Minneapolis is also filing a declaration hoping a judge will issue a temporary restraining order to pause the operation.
Why It Matters
This shooting, occurring less than three weeks after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, highlights growing concerns about the increased presence of federal agents in Minneapolis and the potential for escalation during immigration enforcement. The conflicting accounts from DHS and Gov. Walz, coupled with the video evidence, raise serious questions about the transparency and accountability of federal law enforcement actions. The legal challenges brought by Attorney General Ellison and the City of Minneapolis signal a determined effort to limit the scope of federal immigration enforcement within the state.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by CBS News and added independent analysis and context.
