SAT. Memorial Grows as Outrage Swells After Federal Agent Kills ICU Nurse in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS — What began as a small gathering of a few dozen people has turned into a substantial memorial for Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on Saturday morning.
Local residents and supporters laid flowers, candles and placards at the makeshift shrine near the site where Pretti died, drawing hundreds of mourners and onlookers as news of his death reverberates beyond Minnesota.
Pretti, an ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, was killed during a clash with United States Customs and Border Protection agents as part of a broader immigration enforcement initiative in the city. Authorities have said that the agents fired their weapons “fearing for their safety,” asserting that Pretti posed a threat.
However, multiple citizen-recorded videos of the confrontation — verified and analyzed by news outlets — appear to contradict key aspects of the government’s account of the incident, fueling public doubt and anger.
At a vigil in nearby Cleveland, Ohio, health care workers honored Pretti’s memory and criticized federal immigration authorities. Fiona Forbes, a nurse, voiced frustration at what she described as a lack of proper training for agents who become involved in situations that medical professionals are trained to handle safely every day.
Federal officials have identified the agents involved as Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez, both with Customs and Border Protection, though the broader circumstances of the shooting remain under investigation.
Pretti’s death — the second fatal shooting by a federal officer in Minneapolis this month — has reignited debate over immigration enforcement tactics and the use of force by federal authorities. Calls from state and local officials for an end to the controversial operation have intensified amid public demonstrations and growing demands for accountability.
The Department of Justice is reportedly reviewing the incident for possible civil rights violations, underscoring the national scrutiny this case has attracted.
