Remembered as a kind and caring nurse, Alex Pretti died trying to protect others, with eyewitnesses shedding light on his harrowing final moments
Alex Pretti reads last rites to a soldier in 2024
Remembered as a ‘good man’, intensive care nurse Alex Pretti spent his last moments trying to protect others before he was shot by a masked ICE agent.
In an incident that closely mirrored the shooting of Renee Good, the 37-year-old was gunned down by a federal officer on Saturday, January 24, just over one mile away from where the mother-of-three was killed earlier this month.
Remembered for his kind, compassionate nature, Alex, who’d been left dismayed by the sight of his neighbours being dragged from their homes, took to the streets of Minneapolis in protest against the ongoing immigration crackdown, which has sparked widespread condemnation.
It was then that events took yet another shocking turn, as Alex was wrestled to the ground while multiple agents pounced on him and tried to tackle him and pin him down. Moments later, screams and cries rang out in the Minnesota city, as one of the agents was observed pulling out his gun and firing at the ICU nurse, apparently at close range.
A total of 10 gunshots were heard in total, as horrified onlookers looked on in broad daylight. It’s been claimed that ICE agents then stepped away from Alex’s motionless body, rather than make any attempt to try and revive him.
READ MORE: ICE shooting: Donald Trump gives 4-word take on Alex Pretti killing
The official account of what happened that day has been disputed, both by eyewitnesses and Alex’s parents. Homeland Security issued a statement alleging that the Illinois-born American citizen had “approached” officers while carrying a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and two magazines, claiming that he had “violently resisted” attempts to disarm him.
Officials have not specified whether or not Alex brandished the gun, which is not visible in bystander footage of the shooting obtained by The Associated Press. The Guardian reports that two eyewitnesses, a woman who captured footage from mere feet away and a doctor who watched on from a nearby apartment, later gave sworn testimony that Alex had not been brandishing a weapon at any point.
The woman who filmed the horrific scene said that Alex had been trying to help another woman that agents had shoved to the ground when he was tackled by ICE agents. One federal officer then sprayed a chemical agent in the faces of Alex and the woman he was trying to assist, according to the witness testimomy.
She said: “The agents pulled the man on the ground. I didn’t see him touch any of them – he wasn’t even turned toward them. It didn’t look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up. I didn’t see him with a gun. They threw him to the ground. Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him. They shot him so many times … I don’t know why they shot him. He was only helping. I was five feet from him and they just shot him …”
Meanwhile, the other witness – a doctor – claimed that federal officers had initially prevented them from providing medical intervention, and seemed to be more focused on counting bullet wounds rather than carrying out CPR. It’s also been claimed that, after the shooting, gathered crowds shouted at federal officers, whom they referred to as “cowards”, telling them to go home. One officer allegedly responded mockingly as he walked away, telling the angered crowds: “Boo hoo.”
President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration have given a narrative which appears to run contrary to what video evidence would suggest. Speaking at a press conference held over the weekend, POTUS said, “I don’t like any shooting. I don’t like it. But I don’t like it when somebody goes into a protest, and he’s got a very powerful, fully-loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also. That doesn’t play good either.”
Similarly, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Kristi Noem claimed licensed firearms carrier Alex, who had never before encountered law enforcement aside from a couple of traffic violations, had been “brandishing” a gun when agents seized him. However, this version of events does not seem to tally up with the video taken from multiple angles, which shows Alex holding a phone, not a gun. A concealed gun also appeared to have been removed from his waistband by an agent mere moments before his shocking death.
While family members have clarified that Alex had owned a handgun and had a permit to carry a concealed handgun in the state of Minnesota, they say they had never known him to carry it. Speaking out furiously about the ‘gunman’ narrative given by the Trump administration, Alex’s grieving family have issued a statement of their own, asserting: “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.”
They continued: “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.”
The clearest video taken at the scene appears to back up this version of events. In this footage, Alex can be seen appearing to try to assist a legal observer whom an officer had shoved to the ground. In a matter of moments, Alex is then pepper-sprayed and pinned to the ground.
Alex’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and outrage, both across the US and beyond, while another piece of footage, taken at the Veterans Affairs Medical Centre in Minneapolis, where the caring nurse had worked, sheds light on the well-liked man loved ones have such fond memories of.
The moving clip, shared by a man named Mac Randolph, shows Alex reading a heartfelt tribute to a veteran he had treated at the Veterans Affairs centre. Surrounded by fellow nurses, Alex can be seen giving a touching final salute to Mac’s late father, stating: “May we never forget and always remember our brothers and sisters who have served so that we may enjoy the gift of freedom. In this moment, we remember and give thanks to your dedication and selfless service to our nation in the cause of our freedom.”
Taking to social media with the vid, Mac wrote: “RIP Alex Pretti. I never wanted to share this video, but his speech is very on point. My father’s final words to me were to continue to fight the good fight. He would be honoured by Alex’s sacrifice and ashamed of this current administration.”
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