US nurse killed by Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis sparks protests, community anger and demands for answers

A US Border Patrol agent fatally shot a 37-year-old nurse during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Saturday, prompting protests, legal action and bipartisan calls for accountability as video footage and witness accounts challenged federal officials’ initial claims about the incident.

Federal authorities identified the man as Alex J. Pretti, a Minneapolis resident, US citizen and registered nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical centre, who was shot during an operation involving immigration agents.

Shortly after the killing, senior officials in President Donald Trump’s administration described Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” who had arrived armed with the intent to harm law enforcement officers. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti had “attacked” officers and was “brandishing” a weapon.

However, multiple videos filmed by bystanders and widely shared online did not show Pretti holding a gun or attacking officers before he was shot.

Video evidence and witness testimony

Footage from the scene shows Pretti holding a mobile phone, appearing to record officers, directing traffic and shouting at an agent to “not push them into the traffic” during the enforcement action.

Videos also show Pretti stepping in front of an agent who shoved a woman to the ground.

He appeared to make brief physical contact with the agent before being sprayed with a chemical irritant, forced to the ground and restrained by multiple officers. One agent was seen removing a handgun from Pretti’s waistband area while he was on the ground.

In a court filing released on Sunday, a witness disputed federal claims that Pretti had “violently resisted”.

“The ICE agents just kept spraying,” the witness said in the filing. “More agents came over and grabbed the man, who was still trying to help the woman get up.”

The witness added that “it didn’t look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up”.

Federal claims questioned

Noem said on Saturday that Pretti “had a weapon on him, and multiple — dozens — of rounds of ammunition”, alleging he intended to inflict harm on officers.

While officials confirmed Pretti possessed a firearm, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said police believed he was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.

As of Sunday afternoon, no publicly available footage showed Pretti holding or waving a gun, nor attacking officers.

Other federal officials did not repeat the claim that he was “brandishing” a weapon.

Family and union response

Pretti’s parents rejected the federal government’s characterisation of their son.

“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” they said in a statement on Saturday.

Union leaders also criticised the official account.

“DHS has publicly stated that the victim was brandishing a weapon at officers. However, based on the video currently available, that claim is not clearly established,” the union said in a statement. “What we do know is this: a member of our union lost their life today, and that alone is devastating.”

Governor calls shooting unjustified

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said on Sunday that the shooting was unjustified based on video evidence, and urged the Trump administration to withdraw nearly 3,000 federal immigration agents deployed to the Minneapolis–St Paul area.

“You know what you saw,” Walz said at a news conference. “And then you heard the most powerful people in the world narrate to you what you were looking at.”

Walz described Pretti as an “accomplished ICU nurse”, a lawful firearms owner with no criminal record, and someone “beloved by his family and community”.

Legal action and investigation

A Minnesota judge granted a temporary restraining order on Sunday preventing federal officials from destroying evidence related to the shooting. A hearing is scheduled for Monday.

The killing comes weeks after another fatal shooting involving immigration officers in Minneapolis. On Jan. 7, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, was shot and killed during an enforcement action.

National political reaction

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama said in a statement that Pretti’s death should be “a wake-up call to every American”.

“Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job. But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way,” they said, adding that the tactics used in Minnesota were “not what we’re seeing”.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis called for a “thorough and impartial investigation”.

“That requires cooperation and transparency between federal, state and local law enforcement,” Tillis said. “Any administration official who rushes to judgment … is doing an incredible disservice.”

Protests spread beyond Minnesota

The shooting sparked protests and vigils across the United States, including in Southern California.

In Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, about 70 people gathered at Mariachi Plaza on Saturday evening, holding signs reading “Justice for Alex” and “ICE out of LA”. Later, around 500 people attended a candlelight vigil outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building.

“We’re here to stand with the family of Alex Pretti,” said Anjelica Salas, a speaker at the vigil. “We are the people that will not be silent when we see injustice.”

In Santa Ana, demonstrators at a vigil organised by Community Services Organization Orange County said immigration enforcement actions were affecting US citizens as well as undocumented migrants.