Utah officials are urging the Department of Homeland Security to adopt reforms following the January 2026 shooting death of Alex Pretti, an American nurse killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. The call for accountability comes weeks after the fatal encounter during a period of intense immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
Details of the Minneapolis Shooting
The shooting occurred on January 24, 2026, near the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis. Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot multiple times by two United States Customs and Border Protection officers.
Eyewitness Accounts and Video Evidence
At the time of the incident, Pretti was directing traffic and filming law enforcement agents with his mobile phone. According to reports, Preelli stood between a federal agent and a woman whom the agent had pushed to the ground, placing his arm around her for protection. Witnesses observed that federal agents pepper-sprayed Pretti and wrestled him to the ground, where approximately six agents surrounded him before shots were fired.
Contradictory Claims and Video Footage
Bystander video reviewed by several major news organizations, including the Associated Press, Reuters, and the BBC, provided evidence that contradicted initial government claims. While the Trump administration initially alleged without evidence that Pretti was a domestic terrorist intending to massacre law enforcement, video footage showed that Pretti was holding a cell phone rather than a weapon in the moments before being tackled.
Furthermore, footage appeared to show an agent removing a gun from Pretti's holster and moving away from him roughly one second before another agent opened fire. Reports indicated that agents shot Pretti at least ten times within a five-second span, continuing to fire even after he lay motionless on the ground.
Operation Metro Surge Background
The shooting took place during Operation Metro Surge, a federal initiative launched by the Trump administration in December 2025 to target the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. The operation followed President Trump's January 20, 2025, declaration of illegal immigration as a national emergency.
Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino stated that the agents involved were attempting to detain an undocumented immigrant with a significant criminal history. However, the Minnesota Department of Corrections later reported that the individual in question had no criminal history in Minnesota and only possessed misdemeanor traffic offenses from over a decade prior.
Pattern of Federal Agent Shootings
The death of Pretti was the third shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis within a three-week period. It followed the January 7, 2026, killing of Renée Good by a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, an event that had already triggered widespread protests.
In the aftermath of the Pretti shooting, nearly two dozen witnesses were reportedly taken to and detained at the federally controlled Whipple Building for several hours before being released. Additionally, state investigators reported being denied access to the shooting scene by federal authorities.
Reactions from Advocacy Groups
The incident drew condemnation from various political and advocacy groups. While the Trump administration described Pretti as an agitator and an insurrectionist, gun rights organizations including the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Gun Owners of America (GOA) condemned the administration's comments regarding Pretti's possession of a firearm, citing Second Amendment protections.
Pretti, a graduate of the University of Minnesota and a longtime employee of the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, had no criminal record. According to Minneapolis Police Department Chief Brian O'Hara, Pretti held a valid Minnesota state permit to carry a handgun.
Department Leadership and Oversight
As of July 2026, the Department of Homeland Security continues to operate under the leadership of Secretary Kristi Noem, who served as the 8th Secretary during the 2025-2026 term. The scrutiny surrounding the use of force by federal agents in Minnesota remains a central point of debate regarding the future of national immigration enforcement operations.
