Eyewitness disputes DHS account of Alex Pretti killing; nurses union now demands independent probe
A sworn eyewitness declaration filed in federal court alleges Border Patrol agents punched car windows, stopped traffic, pepper‑sprayed bystanders, shoved a woman, and that Alex Pretti—who witnesses say raised his hands, was pepper‑sprayed and tried to help the woman up—was thrown to the ground by several agents and then shot despite no gun being seen, contradicting DHS’s public self‑defense account. Pretti’s nurses’ union, joining growing community vigils and protests at 26th & Nicollet mourning the ICU nurse, called the VA secretary’s response “deeply disappointed” and demanded a fully independent investigation separate from DHS’s internal review.
📌 Key Facts
- A sworn eyewitness declaration was filed in U.S. District Court as part of a federal lawsuit naming DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and DHS, alleging excessive force and saying DHS’s public self‑defense claims conflict with video and witness evidence.
- The eyewitness account says agents punched car windows, stopped traffic, pepper‑sprayed observers, shoved at least one woman to the ground, and that Alex Pretti — who the witness says raised his hands and was pepper‑sprayed — was thrown to the ground by 4–5 agents and then shot despite the witness never seeing a gun in his hands.
- The incident occurred at 26th & Nicollet; reporting provides a street‑level, time‑sequenced account from a frigid, near‑empty morning with heavy police presence to an evening of vigils and chanting protesters, noting boarded businesses, flashing squads and makeshift memorials.
- Neighbors, business patrons and demonstrators expressed shock, fear and anger over a federal shooting in their residential neighborhood; Pretti has become a rallying symbol in protests against Operation Metro Surge, with new chants, signs and organizing themes appearing at gatherings.
- Alex Pretti was an ICU nurse with ties to local hospitals and the south Minneapolis community; mourners and friends offered personal tributes and the memorial at 26th & Nicollet grew in size and scope, with evolving speeches and prayers.
- Pretti’s nurses’ union — representing VA and/or Twin Cities hospital nurses — said it is 'deeply disappointed' with Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins’ public response, criticized his emphasis on supporting federal agents amid apparent contradictions between DHS’s narrative and emerging evidence, and explicitly demanded a fully independent investigation separate from DHS’s internal review.
📊 Relevant Data
Venezuelan illegal immigrants had an incarceration rate of 241 per 100,000 in the US from 2010-2023, the lowest among selected nationalities, compared to higher rates for US-born citizens.
Illegal Immigrant Incarceration Rates, 2010–2023 — Cato Institute
US immigration agents have been involved in 16 shooting incidents since the second Trump administration began, resulting in 4 deaths and at least 7 injuries.
US immigration agents shot at people 16 times under Trump's second term — The Guardian
US economic sanctions on Venezuela since 2017 have exacerbated the economic crisis, contributing to massive emigration by reducing oil exports and increasing hyper-dependency on oil.
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: A Consequence of U.S. Economic Sanctions — University at Albany Scholars Archive
Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy as of 2025, helping to make it healthy and affordable.
Economist: Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy — MPR News
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Pretti’s union (a nurses’ union representing VA and/or Twin Cities hospital nurses) issued a formal statement saying it is 'deeply disappointed' with Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins’ public response to the shooting.
- The union explicitly called for a fully independent investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti, separate from DHS’s internal review, and questioned whether VA leadership is adequately defending frontline health‑care workers.
- Union leaders criticized Collins for emphasizing support for federal agents and the immigration operation while, in their view, minimizing or overlooking contradictions between DHS’s narrative and emerging video/witness evidence from the Nicollet Avenue scene.
- Introduces a detailed sworn declaration filed in U.S. District Court by an eyewitness who was on Nicollet when the shooting occurred.
- Witness states agents were punching car windows, stopping traffic, pepper‑spraying observers and shoving at least one woman to the ground before the shooting.
- Witness says Alex Pretti raised his hands, was pepper‑sprayed, then tried to help the shoved woman up and was thrown to the ground by 4–5 agents who then 'just started shooting him' despite the witness never seeing a gun in his hands.
- The filing is part of a federal lawsuit naming DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and DHS, explicitly alleging excessive force and a disconnect between DHS’s public self‑defense claims and what’s on video.
- Details from mourners and friends about who Alex Pretti was, including his work as an ICU nurse and his ties to local hospitals and the south Minneapolis community.
- More granular description of the memorial at 26th & Nicollet — size of the crowd, types of tributes, tone of speeches/prayers, and how it has evolved since the initial vigil.
- Additional quotes reflecting community anger and fear about Border Patrol and ICE operating with military-style tactics in residential Minneapolis neighborhoods.
- Further clarification of how Pretti has become a symbol in protests against Operation Metro Surge, including new chants, signs, and organizing themes mentioned at the gathering.
- Provides a street‑level, time‑sequenced account of several hours at 26th & Nicollet after Alex Pretti was killed, from near‑empty sidewalks and heavy police presence in subzero cold to the arrival of mourners and chanting protesters.
- Captures direct quotes and emotions from neighbors, business patrons and demonstrators who describe shock, fear, and anger at yet another federal shooting in their neighborhood.
- Details the physical feel of the scene — boarded businesses, flashing squads, makeshift memorials, and the contrast between a frigid, almost silent morning and an evening of vigils and outraged chants — which was not in prior policy‑focused coverage.