What We Know About a Second Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
✍️ Editor: Sudhir Choudhary
📅 January 25, 2026
Minneapolis Hit by Another Deadly Federal Agent Shooting
A second fatal shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis has drawn intense local and national attention after 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti was shot and killed on the morning of January 24, 2026. The incident, involving agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol during an enforcement operation, has sparked protests, political debate, and ongoing investigations by state and federal authorities.
Pretti’s death represents the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal immigration authorities in Minneapolis in January, following the shooting of Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman, by an ICE agent on January 7. That earlier fatality also triggered widespread criticism and protests.
Circumstances of the Shooting
Federal officials have stated that officers “acted in self-defense” after encountering a perceived threat. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Pretti approached officers with a 9 mm handgun during an immigration enforcement operation and resisted efforts to disarm him, leading a Border Patrol agent to fire “defensive shots.” DHS circulated an image of the firearm purportedly recovered at the scene and described the encounter as dangerous for agents.
Video footage obtained by multiple news outlets and analyses, however, shows a more contested sequence. Bystander video appears to depict agents wrestling Pretti to the ground — during which he was pepper-sprayed — before multiple shots were fired within seconds. In the moments leading up to the shooting, Pretti is seen holding a mobile phone rather than brandishing a weapon, according to reporting and video analysis.
Identity and Background of the Victim
Pretti was a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and an intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Local officials and family members confirmed that he was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry, and noted he had no significant criminal history.
Response From Officials and Community Leaders
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized federal accounts of the shooting, describing them as inconsistent with available video evidence and calling for state authorities to lead investigations. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also condemned the shooting and urged federal immigration agents to end their enforcement operations in the city. State investigators from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) reported delays and resistance in accessing the scene from federal officers, even after obtaining a judicial warrant.
Local law enforcement emphasized coordination with investigators but noted “very limited” information was shared by federal authorities in the immediate aftermath. Both Walz and Frey called for transparency and accountability in the examination of evidence and enforcement tactics.
Public Reaction and Protests
The fatal shooting reignited protests in Minneapolis and across the United States, with demonstrators condemning ICE and federal immigration operations as overly aggressive and unsafe. Vigils and marches took place near the site of the shooting as community members expressed grief and frustration. Some rallies drew thousands of participants, extending beyond Minnesota to cities such as New York and Los Angeles.
Critics of the federal operation argue that repeated use of force by immigration agents illustrates systemic issues with enforcement tactics and oversight. Supporters of federal action maintain that agents must be able to protect themselves in volatile situations but acknowledge the need for clear investigations into what happened.
Comparison With Earlier Fatal Shooting
Earlier in the month, Renée Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a separate enforcement operation near E. 34th Street in Minneapolis. Good was a U.S. citizen and, according to local officials, acted as an observer when federal officers engaged her vehicle. Video footage and official narratives also conflicted in that case, with federal officials defending the shooting as self-defense and local authorities and family members disputing that account.
Both fatalities have intensified discussions about federal agent deployments under Operation Metro Surge, a large immigration enforcement initiative in the area, and have led to calls from civil rights advocates, elected officials, and community groups for reforms to federal immigration enforcement practices.
What Is Known and What Remains Under Investigation
It is confirmed that federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis, marking the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal immigration authorities in the city in January. It is also confirmed that Pretti was an ICU nurse and lawful gun owner. What remains under investigation is the precise sequence of events, including whether the firearm played an active role in the confrontation and whether federal policies and protocols were followed. Authorities have not yet released comprehensive body-cam footage or a full incident timeline.
Sources:
Reuters; Star Tribune; CBS Minnesota; ABC News; Time.
Tags: Minneapolis, immigration enforcement, ICE, Border Patrol, Alex Pretti, federal agents, protests
News by The Vagabond News.
