Which city's Veterans Health Care System employed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, the nurse killed by immigration agents in 2026?

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was employed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was fatally shot by two United States Customs and Border Protection officers in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. The incident occurred amidst widespread protests against "Operation Metro Surge," a federal immigration enforcement campaign, and followed the earlier killing of another Minneapolis resident, Renée Good, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.

Pretti, a U.S. citizen born in Illinois and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was a graduate of the University of Minnesota and had worked as a research scientist before becoming a registered nurse in 2021. Family members described him as someone who cared deeply about people and was upset by the immigration crackdown in his city. He had participated in protests against these policies, including demonstrations after the killing of Renée Good.

Conflicting accounts emerged regarding the circumstances of Pretti's death. Department of Homeland (Review) Security officials claimed he approached agents with a handgun and resisted, leading an agent to fire in self-defense. However, bystander videos and family statements contradicted this, showing Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, as he attempted to assist other protesters. The incident sparked significant protests in Minneapolis and other cities, and led to increased tensions between state and federal officials, with Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz denouncing the federal authorities' account of events.