A biography on the life of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an American intensive–care nurse, aged 37. His life ended on January 24, 2026, when he was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents during a protest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His death ignited a national outcry over federal immigration enforcement methods.
Alex Pretti Biography: Personal Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alex Jeffrey Pretti |
| Birth Year | 1988 |
| Birthplace | Park Ridge, Illinois |
| Hometown | Green Bay, Wisconsin (grew up in Bellevue) |
| Age at Death | 37 years old |
| Date of Death | January 24, 2026 |
| Occupation | ICU Nurse, Veterans Affairs Medical Center |
| Education | Preble High School (2006), University of Minnesota (2011) |
Early Life and Education
Alex was born to Michael and Susan Pretti in Park Ridge, Illinois. He had ancestry from Northern Italy. When he was young, the Pretti family moved to the Green Bay, WI area, where he spent most of his life living in Bellevue.
Alex was an active and well-rounded student throughout high school, graduating from Green Bay Preble High School in 2006. He participated in numerous choir and musical theatre productions, in addition to being an athlete who played football, baseball, and ran track as part of the school‘s athletic program.
Outside of school, he was also involved with Boy Scouts and sang in the Green Bay Boy Choir. Alex headed to Minnesota after high school, and began his studies at the University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts, majoring in Biology, Society, and Environment, graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Career Path
Research to Nursing
The Alex Pretti Biography comes with a work history that was dedicated to assisting others. His first endeavor following college was a research scientist. Year later he was employed as a research assistant within the clinical research program at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System.
Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Graduated from University of Minnesota |
| 2014 | Hired as research assistant at Minneapolis VA |
| 2021 | Became registered nurse in Minnesota |
| 2026 | Working as ICU nurse at VA hospital at time of death |
Eventually, after spending three years with research Alex chose to redirect his focus back to college and obtain a nursing degree; he received his RN license in the state of Minnesota in 2021. He was employed as an intensive care unit nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis at the time of his death and maintained an active practice as an RN.
Personal Life and Character
Alex was viewed by family friends as someone with a genuine spirit and warmth. These characteristics were noted by Ruth Anway, who stated she knew Alex as being someone with commitment and motivation toward an occupation, and possessing a good sense of humor.
Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, a fellow RN colleague, indicated the smile was a common facial expression for Alex. Alex had a passion for outdoor activities. He enjoyed taking his Catahoula Leopard dog named Joule on excursions into the woods. Giorgia, his mother, indicated that Alex had a special bond with Joule who passed away shortly prior to Alex’s death, and he truly cared for his environment.
Alex had a strong belief in protecting nature. Giorgia stated: “He loved this country, but hated how people were treating it.“ Shortly before he died, Alex provided a $100 gratuity to an employee of a Latino establishment; while his family acknowledged that this was a kind act of Alex in support of those affected by the federal government’s immigration policy.
The Lyndale neighborhood of Minneapolis–Hennepin County (approx 4 unit condo) is where Alex lived. It was only ~2 miles from where he was murdered. The residents of Alex‘s building described him as a very quiet, kind-hearted person who was more than willing to help out whenever anyone asked.
An upper–level neighbor, Sue Gitar, commented, “Alex is a wonderful person. He has a really big heart.”
Activism and Final Days of Alex
According to his family, Alex owned a handgun and received a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) permit 3 years before he was murdered. However, the family stated Alex never carried the handgun on his person. Alex expressed great concern with the immigration enforcement actions being taken by the Donald Trump administration in Minneapolis.
After the killing of Renée Good (an American citizen who was shot to death by an ICE officer on January 7, 2025) Alex had become very upset about the issue. Following Renée Good’s death, Alex took part in protests. His dad Michael stated that “Alex cared deeply about people” and that he was disturbed by what had happened. “He thought it was terrible that they were kidnapping children and just grabbing people off the street; he really cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong.”
His parents have recently moved to Colorado and have warned him to use caution when protesting. Michael Pretti stated, “Two weeks ago, we had this conversation with him: go ahead and protest, but don‘t engage or do anything stupid while there.“ Alex told his dad that he understood and was aware of that.
The Fatal Shooting
On the morning of January 24, 2026, at about 9:05 AM, in Minneapolis, Alex was nearby the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue. He was recording video via his phone of federal agents as they set up a barrier for traffic control. He was trying to give direction to the motorists. The video evidence depicts an agent throwing a lady on the ground.
As a result, Alex positioned himself directly between the federal agent and the woman, and he used his arms for protection. Alex was then assaulted with pepper spray and subsequently pinned down by several other federal agents. Alex was shot numerous times and died with approximately six agents encircling him. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that Alex had attacked federal agents with a weapon.
However, according to video evidence released by Reuters, BBC, Wall Street Journal, and Associated Press, Alex was holding a cellular smartphone instead of a pistol. The aforementioned video appears to contain evidence of a federal agent who extracted a firearm before proceeding a short, non–verbal distance away from Alex prior to when Alexander was shot.
Alex Pretti Legacy and Impact
Alex’s parent(s) expressed grief over Alex‘s death by issuing a strong statement. They stated, “Alex is a good and caring human being. In addition to being a good son and brother, Alex was also a good friend, and he was a devoted and caring nurse for the United States servicemen and women that he worked with daily at the hospital.”
Furthermore, the parents of Alex have stated that they feel the assertions made by the federal government regarding their son are “sickening” and “disgusting acts” committed by the government. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz referred to Alex‘s murder as “sickening,” stating “I have had enough of this in Minnesota.” He also promised that the state of Minnesota is compiling a comprehensive inventory of evidence necessary to hold accountable those federal agents involved in murdering Alex.
The shooting of Alex Pretti, which was one of three such shootings involving Federal Immigration agents in Minneapolis within three weeks, has spurred protests locally and nationally over the means by which Federal immigration officers enforce the law.
Former classmates and friends of Alex remember him fondly. One high school friend, Chris Di Salvi said: “He was a very good person. I’m heartbroken that his life would end this way.” “He was a kind, honest, sincere, and friendly man to everyone.” Alex Jeffrey Pretti lived a life of service to others; as a nurse for Veterans; as a friend and neighbor; and finally as someone who stood up for what he believed to be right.
This Alex Pretti biography cannot be complete without highlighting the fact that his death has become an impetus for questions regarding the methods that Federal Immigration Enforcement uses to enforce their laws and serves as a constant reminder of the devastation that occurs at the expense of political disagreements.
