In the wake of a deadly confrontation that has reignited a firestorm of protest across the Twin Cities, those who knew Alex Pretti best are painting a portrait that stands in stark contrast to the chaotic scenes captured on video.
Minneapolis, MN — The quiet, tree-lined streets of South Minneapolis are reeling this week after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a dedicated ICU nurse and U.S. Army veteran caregiver, who was killed by federal agents on Saturday, January 24. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has characterized Pretti as an armed threat, neighbors and family describe a compassionate man who dedicated his life to healing others.
“A Wonderful Person with a Great Heart”
Sue Gitar, who lived directly below Pretti for three years, is struggling to reconcile the violent end of her neighbor with the gentle man she knew. Speaking to reporters, Gitar described Pretti as a pillar of their small condo community—a man who would not only help with building maintenance but would also look out for the safety of those around him.
“He’s a wonderful person,” Gitar said, her voice trembling. “He has a great heart. I never thought of him as a person who carried a gun.”
According to Gitar and other residents, Pretti was known for his reliability and warmth. He was a familiar face, often seen walking his dog, Joule, before the pet passed away last year. To his neighbors, he was the guy who checked for gas leaks and chatted over the fence, not the “domestic terrorist” label being floated by some federal officials.
A Life Dedicated to Service
Born in Illinois and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Pretti had built a life centered on service. He worked as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, caring for the nation’s veterans. Colleagues and family members say his work deeply shaped him, fueling a passion for protecting the vulnerable.
“He cared about people deeply,” said his father, Michael Pretti. “He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He knew it was wrong.”
The Incident: Conflicting Narratives
The shooting occurred amidst escalating tensions following the controversial “Operation Metro Surge,” an immigration enforcement crackdown deployed by the administration earlier this month. The atmosphere in Minneapolis was already volatile following the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good, another local resident killed by federal agents.
According to witness affidavits and bystander video analysis, Pretti was observing a protest near 26th Street West and Nicollet Avenue when chaos erupted. Footage appears to show Pretti holding a cell phone—not a weapon—as he stepped in to shield a woman being pepper-sprayed by an agent.
While DHS officials claim Pretti “approached officers with a firearm,” new details challenge this timeline. Videos suggest Pretti was tackled and pinned to the ground by multiple agents before a gun was removed from his waistband—a weapon family confirm he legally owned but rarely carried. Moments later, shots rang out.
“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible,” the Pretti family said in a searing statement. “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked… He was a good man.”
A City Demanding Answers
The killing has drawn condemnation from high-profile figures, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and various NBA and NFL stars, who have called for an immediate end to the federal operation. As flowers and pine cone memorials pile up outside Pretti’s home, the disconnect between the official government narrative and the testimony of those who lived beside him continues to widen.
For Sue Gitar, the politics are secondary to the loss of a friend. “He cared,” she repeated, a simple epitaph for a man whose final act was reportedly one of protection.
As investigations by local and federal bodies begin to clash, Minneapolis remains a city holding its breath, waiting for the full truth of what happened on that Saturday morning to come to light.
