Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a Minneapolis resident, was identified by the American Federation of Government Employees as the man who died after being shot during a federal law enforcement operation early Saturday morning.

Pretti, who was 37, was one of the union’s members and worked as an ICU nurse at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The shooting occurred around 9 a.m. local time on Saturday, Jan. 24, during what the Department of Homeland Security described as a targeted immigration enforcement operation.

According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, officers were in Minneapolis attempting to arrest Jose Huerta-Chuma, an undocumented immigrant with a prior criminal record that included domestic assault, disorderly conduct, and driving without a valid license. During the operation, McLaughlin said Pretti approached Border Patrol agents while armed with a handgun and resisted efforts to disarm him, prompting an agent to fire what she described as defensive shots.

Pretti had been a registered nurse since early 2021 and had spent his professional life caring for veterans through his work at the VA. Colleagues described him as deeply committed to his patients and respected for his clinical skill.

Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, an infectious disease physician who worked alongside Pretti, remembered him as warm, energetic, and quick with humor, calling him a “very, very skilled nurse” who brought kindness into high-pressure situations.

Outside the hospital, Pretti was known for his love of the outdoors and his close bond with his Catahoula Leopard dog, Joule, who had recently died.

As news of the shooting spread, Pretti’s parents and family members, including his ex-wife, were left reeling. They have spoken publicly about their grief, sharing that they had urged him to be cautious while protesting and emphasizing how deeply he cared about his loved ones, his community, and the veterans Alex served.

Who Were Alex Pretti’s Parents?

Alex Jeffrey Pretti was raised by his parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, who lived in Colorado and Wisconsin. They described their son as a devoted, thoughtful person who cared deeply about others and the world around him.

Pretti was born in Illinois and grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Preble High School in 2006. As a youth, he played multiple sports, including football, baseball, and track, and took part in activities like the Boy Scouts and the Green Bay Boys Choir.

After high school, he attended the University of Minnesota and graduated in 2011 with a degree in biology, society, and the environment. Before pursuing a career in healthcare, he worked as a research scientist. Later, he returned to school to train as a nurse and became a registered nurse, dedicating his career to caring for patients at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital.

When news broke of his death, his parents issued a statement expressing their grief and frustration. They described their son as kindhearted and compassionate, someone who loved his family and friends and took pride in helping American veterans through his work. In their statement, they said they were “heartbroken but also very angry,” and urged the public to seek the truth about what happened.

Michael and Susan Pretti added that their son had wanted to make a positive difference in the world and that he deeply cared about people and the causes he believed in. They ended the statement, “Please get the truth about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.”

His Parents Warned Him to Stay Safe During ICE Protests

In the weeks before the shooting, Alex became involved in demonstrations sparked by the Jan. 7 killing of Renée Good by an ICE officer — a death that drew widespread outrage and protests across Minneapolis and beyond.

Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, lived in Colorado and watched their son follow the events closely. They supported his right to protest but warned him to stay safe and avoid risky situations. In a conversation just weeks before the incident, they told him to join demonstrations thoughtfully and not escalate tensions.

“We talked about it two weeks ago,” Michael Pretti said. “Go protest, but don’t get involved in anything dangerous. Don’t do anything stupid.” He added that Alex understood their concerns and said he would be careful.

Alex Pretti Had Been Married Before: What His Ex-Wife Shared

Alex had previously been married to Rachel N. Canoun, though the two had divorced more than two years before his death. By the time of the shooting, they were no longer in contact, and Canoun had since relocated to another state. She has said they had not spoken since the end of their marriage.

Reflecting on the person she once knew, Canoun described Pretti as politically engaged and aligned with Democratic causes. She recalled his involvement in demonstrations that followed the 2020 killing of George Floyd, noting that those protests unfolded close to where they were living at the time. According to her, documenting events as they happened became common, with livestreams often shared on social media.

Canoun acknowledged that her ex-husband, Pretti, could be vocal during protests, including shouting at law enforcement officers, but emphasized that she never viewed him as someone prone to physical confrontation. From her perspective, his participation was rooted in expression and visibility rather than aggression.