Video shows Alex Pretti in altercation with ICE agents 11 days prior to shooting incident.
In a troubling incident that unfolded just over a week before his fatal encounter with federal agents, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was involved in a confrontation with law enforcement in Minneapolis. This event has drawn significant attention following the publication of bystander video footage that captures the altercation.
The video, released by Media News Source, was recorded on January 13, 2026, near East 36th Street and Park Avenue in the Powderhorn neighborhood of Minneapolis. Footage shows Pretti among a group of protesters who were vocally challenging agents in an unmarked vehicle. During this exchange, Pretti was seen kicking the taillight of the SUV, prompting one officer to exit the vehicle and physically engage with him. The confrontation escalated quickly, with multiple agents accumulating to subdue Pretti. This struggle, which lasted approximately 20 seconds, ended with Pretti breaking free from the officers, despite the agents using rubber bullets and tear gas against the crowd. Remarkably, the agents retreated without detaining Pretti.
Pretti’s parents have confirmed that their son is indeed the individual present in the violent encounter. Attorney Steve Schleicher, representing the family, has publicly expressed that there was no justification for the subsequent shooting of Pretti by ICE agents on January 24, 2026. He emphasized that pre-existing tensions from the earlier incident could not validate the extreme response that led to Pretti’s death.
The tragic shooting of Pretti is part of a broader climate of concern around federal agency interactions in civilian scrutiny, particularly following another incident weeks earlier in which ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a mother and poet, in a separate residential area of Minneapolis.
In response to the rising tensions surrounding federal law enforcement practices, community members and healthcare workers have organized vigils at the site of Pretti’s death, advocating for justice and reform in the handling of such interactions. This recent sequence of events raises profound questions about the use of force by federal agents and the overarching responsibility of law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of all individuals during confrontations. The narrative continues to unfold as the community seeks answers and accountability in the wake of these distressing incidents.
