Pretti family seeks accountability after federal officers' fatal shooting
Seven months after ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, his relatives appeared on television demanding a transparent investigation and accountability for the agents involved.
The parents of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was shot by two federal immigration officers on Jan. 24 in Minneapolis, spoke publicly for the first time on a morning news program, calling for accountability and a full investigation. Michael Pretti said the video footage of the incident is clear and that his son was simply observing immigration activity when officers forced him to the ground, removed his legally owned firearm and then fired multiple shots.
The family learned of the shooting while watching news coverage, recognizing Alex’s jacket and sunglasses on the screen. They expressed shock that no one had yet been held responsible and asked for an apology for statements made by former administration officials that labeled Alex as a domestic terrorist or agitator.
The Department of Justice has opened a civil-rights investigation, with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI also involved. A DOJ spokesperson said family communications typically occur later in the legal process, such as after an indictment. The Pretti family’s attorney, Steve Schleicher, said the family has not been kept informed about the investigation’s progress and wants to know the identities of the agents who fired.
The family’s request for transparency comes amid broader criticism of the federal response to the shooting, which has drawn national attention to the use of force by immigration officers in Minneapolis.