Alex Pretti’s household slams Trump administration’s ‘sickening lies’ and say nurse son was killed ‘by murdering and cowardly ICE thugs’
The family of a Minneapolis nurse shot dead by the Department of Homeland Security have eviscerated the Trump administration and ‘murdering and cowardly ICE thugs’ in a blistering statement.
Speaking hours after Alex Jeffrey Pretti’s death in Minneapolis Saturday morning, the 37-year-old’s family said: ‘The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting.
‘Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.
‘He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.
‘Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.’
On Saturday evening, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed claims Pretti ‘brandished’ a weapon at her agents before his shooting.
But footage taken of the killing appears to dispute her claims.
One agent was seen removing what appeared to be Pretti’s legally-owned handgun from his waistband.
The family of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, the Minneapolis intensive care nurse fatally shot by a federal immigration officer, issued a searing statement accusing the Trump administration of spreading ‘sickening lies’
The Pretti family demanded the public see the video evidence they say makes it clear that their son was holding a cellphone and not a gun when he was attacked and killed
Earlier on, Pretti could be seen holding a shiny object aloft while scuffling with an officer, moments after he was pepper-sprayed.
It is unclear what that object was. He had been recording with his phone in one hand before the confrontation erupted.
His other hand appeared to be free. The agent he was tussling with did not yell ‘gun’ at the sight of that object or recoil.
Pretti, who worked as an intensive care nurse for Veterans Affairs, was hailed as a good and caring man by his grieving family.
Their statement said: ‘Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.
‘Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact.
‘I do not through around the hero term lightly.
‘However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.’
Pretti was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed getting into adventures with Joule, his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog who also recently died.
He had also participated in protests following the January 7 killing of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs officer.
