When federal immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, a nearby neighbor—a 29-year-old pediatrician—rushed to help after witnessing the aftermath from an apartment window. In a sworn statement now part of federal court filings, the doctor described arriving at a chaotic scene where Pretti lay on his side, surrounded by ICE agents, with no visible medical aid being provided. The physician was alarmed by the positioning of the victim and said agents appeared focused on counting gunshot wounds rather than checking for a pulse or administering CPR. After repeatedly identifying themself as a doctor and insisting on access, the physician was frisked and allowed through. Upon turning Pretti onto his back, the doctor observed multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, neck area, and back, found no pulse, and immediately began CPR until EMS arrived. The doctor later described being emotionally devastated by the experience and fleeing the area after tear gas filled the building.

Pretti was later identified as a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, and a person widely described as compassionate, politically engaged, and deeply concerned about immigration policy and environmental issues. Witnesses and video footage show a tense confrontation between Pretti and federal agents before the shooting, though the exact sequence of events remains under investigation. Authorities state Pretti was armed, while those who knew him say he was protesting and expressing opposition to ICE presence rather than posing an active threat. His death has intensified national scrutiny amid an ongoing federal immigration crackdown, sparked protests in Minneapolis, and raised serious questions about the use of force, emergency medical response, and civilian safety during enforcement operations.