In a bombshell revelation that has ignited fury across the nation, a heroic doctor who rushed to the aid of fatally shot ICU nurse Alex Pretti has accused U.S. Border Patrol agents of callously maneuvering the dying man’s body—not to render emergency care, but to meticulously count his gunshot wounds while ignoring standard protocols like checking for a pulse or starting CPR. The sworn testimony, filed in federal court amid escalating protests in Minneapolis, paints a chilling picture of indifference in the face of death, further fueling outrage over the January 24, 2026, shooting that claimed the life of a dedicated 37-year-old healthcare worker and U.S. citizen.
The incident unfolded on a chaotic Saturday morning near East 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, in the heart of Minneapolis, where federal immigration agents were conducting a high-profile operation targeting an undocumented individual wanted for violent assault. What began as a routine enforcement action spiraled into tragedy when Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital renowned for his compassionate care of veterans, became involved. Witnesses and bystander videos show Pretti approaching the scene, phone in hand, seemingly documenting the unfolding events or attempting to assist a woman who had been knocked down during the operation.
According to multiple accounts, including verified video footage, Pretti did not brandish a weapon or pose an immediate lethal threat. Yet federal officers opened fire, striking him multiple times—reports indicate at least six or seven shots rang out in rapid succession. Pretti collapsed, his body hitting the pavement as chaos erupted: screams, honking horns, and protesters clashing with law enforcement.
Enter the unnamed 29-year-old licensed pediatrician, a Minneapolis resident since 2024, who was awakened by the commotion and raced to the scene declaring himself a physician. In his detailed sworn affidavit, the doctor described pleading with agents to allow him access to the fallen man. “At first, the ICE agents wouldn’t let me through,” he testified. “None of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, and I could tell that the victim was in critical condition.” Agents repeatedly demanded to see his medical license before finally patting him down for weapons and permitting him to approach.
What the doctor encountered next has become the focal point of national horror. Pretti lay on his side— a position the physician called “not standard practice” for a shooting victim—surrounded by several federal agents. “I was confused as to why the victim was on his side,” the doctor stated. “Checking for a pulse and administering CPR is standard practice. Instead of doing either of those things, the ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds.”
The doctor requested that officers turn Pretti onto his back to better assess him. Upon doing so, he observed “at least three bullet wounds in his back,” plus an additional gunshot wound to the upper left chest and a possible one on the neck. He checked for a pulse—none was detectable—and immediately began chest compressions. Moments later, EMS personnel arrived and took over, but it was too late. Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene, his body bearing the marks of multiple fatal injuries.
The doctor’s testimony, part of an ongoing ACLU lawsuit against Department of Homeland Security officials amid broader challenges to aggressive immigration enforcement in Minnesota, directly contradicts initial federal narratives. The Department of Homeland Security initially claimed Pretti “approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun” and “violently resisted” disarmament attempts, prompting “defensive shots.” Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino described the encounter as one where Pretti allegedly sought to “massacre law enforcement,” labeling agents as the true victims.
Yet bystander videos and witness statements tell a starkly different story: Pretti appeared unarmed during the initial scuffle, holding only his phone. No gun was visibly brandished before the shots were fired. The pediatrician’s account adds a layer of alleged negligence—or worse—post-shooting, suggesting agents prioritized evidence collection over lifesaving intervention.
Pretti, remembered by colleagues as a “kindhearted soul” who deeply cared for veterans and his community, had no criminal record. Friends and family described him as someone who “wanted to make a difference in this world,” often going the extra mile in his ICU duties. A viral video from earlier in his career showed him offering a poignant “final salute” to a veteran patient, declaring, “Freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it and even sacrifice for it.” Tragically, many now see his death as embodying that sacrifice—standing up in a moment of crisis, only to lose his life.
The shooting marks the third involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in just three weeks. On January 7, ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, sparking massive protests. Days later, a Venezuelan man was wounded in the leg. Pretti’s death has amplified calls for accountability, with professional organizations like the American Nurses Association condemning the incident and demanding “transparency and thorough investigation.”
Protests swelled in the aftermath, with thousands taking to the streets chanting for justice and the abolition of ICE. Athletes, including NBA stars Tyrese Haliburton—who called it murder—and Breanna Stewart, voiced outrage online. Political fallout has been swift: Senate Democrats threatened to block DHS funding without reforms, and reports emerged that Bovino and some agents were being relocated or relieved of command amid internal frustration.
A federal judge ordered preservation of evidence, while the DHS maintains that certified EMT agents among the Border Patrol team “immediately delivered medical aid,” though this claim clashes sharply with the doctor’s firsthand testimony. The pediatrician remained at the scene for about five more minutes before leaving as tensions escalated, later expressing profound distress in his statement.
As Minneapolis grapples with yet another fatal encounter involving federal forces, questions burn hotter: Why was life-saving care allegedly delayed or denied? Was protocol sacrificed for procedural priorities? And in a city already scarred by repeated incidents, how many more lives must be lost before meaningful change occurs?
Alex Pretti’s final moments—captured in chaotic video and now etched in sworn testimony—stand as a haunting indictment. A man who dedicated his life to saving others was denied the same chance in his dying breath, his body reportedly handled not with urgency to revive, but with cold calculation to tally the damage. The nation watches, demands answers, and mourns a hero whose sacrifice may finally force reckoning with a system gone tragically awry.
