The Minneapolis community is reeling after a 37-year-old man identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents early Saturday morning during a federal enforcement operation in south Minneapolis.
According to authorities, federal officers from the Department of Homeland Security were conducting a targeted operation when Pretti approached Border Patrol agents with a handgun near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue. Officials say agents attempted to disarm him and that he resisted, prompting at least one agent to fire what the agency described as “defensive shots.” Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit and had no significant criminal history beyond minor traffic violations, and that he was a U.S. citizen and licensed nurse. Footage and eyewitness accounts from the scene showed a physical struggle between Pretti and multiple agents before gunfire erupted.
The shooting occurred amid ongoing tensions in Minneapolis over federal immigration enforcement, following recent fatal and non-fatal incidents involving federal agents in the city. The incident sparked immediate protests and confrontations near the scene, and officials called for calm as investigations continue.
Local, state, and federal authorities are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and further details are expected as the investigation proceeds.
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