Minneapolis Border Patrol Shooting: A City on Edge
In the quiet hours of a Saturday morning in January 2026, the city of Minneapolis was once again shaken to its core. The Minneapolis Border Patrol shooting that claimed the life of 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti has not only devastated a family but has also reignited a fierce national debate about the role and reach of federal law enforcement in American cities .
This tragic event marks the second time in a matter of weeks that federal agents have been involved in a fatal shooting in the city, leaving residents and civil rights advocates demanding answers and accountability .
Table of Contents
- Who Was Alex Pretti?
- The Horror Unfolds: A Second Minneapolis Border Patrol Shooting
- Conflicting Narratives: Officials vs. Family
- Why Is Border Patrol in Minneapolis?
- National Reaction and Ongoing Protests
- Conclusion: A Search for Justice
- Sources
Who Was Alex Pretti?
Alex Jeffrey Pretti was far more than just a name in a news headline. He was a dedicated ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, a caregiver who spent his days tending to the nation’s veterans . His family describes him as a compassionate and caring individual, a man whose life was built on helping others in their most vulnerable moments .
Pretti’s background as a healthcare professional stands in stark contrast to the violent end he met on the streets of his own city. This dissonance has only deepened the sense of injustice felt by many who are now calling for a full and transparent investigation.
The Horror Unfolds: A Second Minneapolis Border Patrol Shooting
The incident occurred on January 24, 2026, in the Eat Street neighborhood of south Minneapolis . According to emerging reports and a disturbing video that has since circulated widely, Border Patrol agents approached Pretti, who was holding his phone . The footage then shows a rapid escalation, with agents tackling him to the ground before firing multiple shots—reports indicate as many as ten shots in just five seconds—even after he had collapsed and was no longer a threat .
This event is particularly alarming because it is the second such killing by federal agents in the city in a short span of time. The repeated use of lethal force by federal officers in a non-border city has created an atmosphere of fear and distrust among Minneapolis residents.
Conflicting Narratives: Officials vs. Family
As is often the case in these high-profile incidents, the official account and the family’s version of events are worlds apart.
- Official Claim: Authorities have stated that Pretti violently resisted attempts to disarm him, justifying the use of deadly force.
- Family’s Account: Pretti’s family and friends paint a picture of a peaceful man who was simply on his phone. They vehemently deny any suggestion of violent resistance, pointing to his profession as a nurse as evidence of his character .
The existence of video evidence makes this discrepancy even more critical. The public is now left to question the official narrative and demand that the footage be used to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Why Is Border Patrol in Minneapolis?
One of the most pressing questions on everyone’s mind is a simple one: why were Border Patrol agents operating in Minneapolis, a city hundreds of miles from any international border?
While Border Patrol typically has legal authority within 100 miles of a U.S. border, their presence in Minnesota has been dramatically expanded in recent weeks. Reports indicate that a surge of up to 2,000 federal agents, including Border Patrol and ICE officers, have been deployed to the Minneapolis area to carry out a crackdown on immigration enforcement .
This aggressive expansion of federal law enforcement has raised serious legal and constitutional concerns. Critics argue that this overreach is a direct threat to the safety and civil liberties of all residents, regardless of their citizenship status .
National Reaction and Ongoing Protests
The killing of Alex Pretti has sparked immediate and widespread outrage. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Minnesota has already issued a statement demanding immediate action and a thorough investigation into the conduct of the federal agents involved .
Protests have erupted across the city, with citizens demanding justice for Pretti and an end to the militarized presence of federal forces in their communities. The case has become a flashpoint in the larger national conversation about police reform, federal overreach, and the right to life and safety for every citizen.
Conclusion: A Search for Justice
The Minneapolis Border Patrol shooting of Alex Pretti is more than a local tragedy; it is a national crisis that demands our collective attention. From the haunting video evidence to the troubling questions about federal jurisdiction, every aspect of this case points to a system in need of urgent scrutiny and reform. As the community mourns the loss of a dedicated nurse, the call for transparency, accountability, and justice grows louder by the day. For more on the ongoing national dialogue on law enforcement, see our coverage on [INTERNAL_LINK:police-reform-in-america].