ALEX JEFFREY PRETTI, Federal agents fatally shot a man early Saturday morning in south Minneapolis, an incident that led to confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement at the scene.
The shooting marks the second fatal encounter involving federal agents in Minnesota amid an expanded immigration enforcement operation underway across the state.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the man was armed with a handgun and was carrying two loaded magazines at the time of the encounter. DHS said an agent discharged his weapon in self-defense and later released a photograph of the firearm recovered at the scene.
Sources familiar with the investigation identified the man as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the case. Pretti was listed as a resident of south Minneapolis.
Video circulating from the scene shows multiple federal agents restraining Pretti on the ground before shots were fired. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
During a news conference, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the deceased was a 37-year-old white male with no significant criminal history. O’Hara said a review of law enforcement records revealed only minor infractions, such as parking violations. Additional law enforcement sources confirmed that Pretti had no serious criminal record.
Chief O’Hara also stated that Pretti was a lawful gun owner and possessed a valid permit to carry a firearm. State and educational records indicate that Pretti attended the University of Minnesota and was issued a Minnesota nursing license in 2021, which remains active through March 2026.
As the day continued, the law enforcement presence in the area gradually decreased while the number of demonstrators grew. Protesters blocked the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, where the shooting occurred. Hundreds of people were seen marching along 26th Street, and several nearby restaurants opened their doors to provide coffee and warmth to protesters.
The shooting comes amid heightened political debate over federal immigration enforcement and funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier in the week, most Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives voted against a Republican-backed bill that would provide additional funding for DHS. The measure passed narrowly with support from seven Democrats and is scheduled for consideration in the U.S. Senate ahead of a January 30 funding deadline.
If Senate Democrats reject the bill, it could result in a partial federal government shutdown. U.S. Representative Angie Craig publicly urged Senate Democrats to oppose the measure. In a statement posted on X, Craig said Republicans could not pass the bill without Democratic support and called for lawmakers to withhold funding from DHS, referring to the agency as “lawless.”
The shooting remains under investigation. Federal authorities have not released the name of the agent involved, and no additional details about the circumstances leading up to the encounter have been made public.
