Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who cared for veterans at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, was fatally shot on Saturday. The shooting occurred during a confrontation involving federal immigration enforcement officers and community members, including Pretti, who were observing immigration activity, according to multiple news reports.
Pretti’s death has drawn national attention and prompted grief from nurses, unions, patients, and veterans. Ongoing investigations focus on the circumstances surrounding his role as a nurse and its significance.
What Happened
According to reporting by the Associated Press, NBC News, and local Minnesota outlets, Pretti was present in a Minneapolis neighborhood where federal immigration officers were conducting enforcement activity. Witnesses described residents gathering to observe the operation, a practice sometimes called community monitoring.
According to federal officials, officers fired after saying they believed Pretti posed a threat during the operation. His family and witnesses have disputed that characterization, noting that multiple videos and eyewitness accounts show Pretti being pepper-sprayed himself, holding a phone, and attempting to help a woman who had been shoved to the ground just before the shooting occurred.
Investigators have not released final findings. The central question remains: What led to the shooting, and how does it affect both immigration policy and community oversight?
Coworkers and Unions: “A VA nurse” Mourned Across the Profession
As the story unfolded, coverage highlighted Alex Pretti’s life beyond the incident, offering a fuller picture of his professional impact.
Pretti, employed at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, was remembered by coworkers and patients as dedicated and compassionate. His union, AFGE Local 3669, confirmed his service and noted his reputation for calmness and empathy.
National nursing unions described Pretti as a devoted ICU nurse to veterans and called his loss troubling for the entire profession.
Patients Remember His Care
Some of the most personal accounts of Pretti’s life have come from former patients and their families.
In an interview with People, Air Force veteran Sonny Fouts said Pretti was his ICU nurse at the VA two weeks before the shooting. He described Pretti as calm and reassuring during recovery, and was shocked to recognize him in national news.
CBS Minnesota reported Pretti’s participation in a “final salute,” a tribute to a deceased veteran. The video circulated widely, with the family citing it as an example of the dignity Pretti brought to end-of-life care.
Why This Matters to Nurses
Alex Pretti’s death resonates with nurses because it entwines public safety issues with the realities and responsibilities of nursing.
Pretti cared for critically ill veterans, illustrating how nurses’ roles can have broad significance beyond the workplace.
Nurses are trained to observe, assess, de-escalate, and protect the vulnerable. As investigations continue, nurses nationwide are raising questions about safety in public spaces and seeking clear guidance on how health professionals can act safely as private citizens.
A National Conversation Still Unfolding
Pretti’s death highlights national questions about immigration enforcement, public oversight, and the safety of civilians. The key takeaway is that these issues continue to spark public debate and have broad implications for healthcare workers and other community members.
For many in healthcare, Pretti is remembered for his work caring for vulnerable veterans. His legacy endures through the patients and colleagues he impacted, standing as a reminder of compassion and courage within and beyond hospital walls.
