Protests Continue Nationwide Fatal Shooting Sparks Outrage
by HEDNEWS on January 26, 2026
- Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, was fatally shot by federal Border Patrol agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24. He was a U.S. citizen with no serious criminal record.
- Federal officials claim the agents acted in self-defense after Pretti allegedly approached them with a gun. Critics and video evidence challenge that account, showing him holding a phone and not brandishing a weapon at the time he was restraine
2) Continued Protests Across the U.S. (Sunday)
Minneapolis - Large crowds gathered again on Sunday at the site of Pretti’s killing despite freezing conditions. Protesters chanted for accountability, erected memorials, and called for immigration agents to leave the city.
- Protesters used street objects and made barricades while yelling slogans like “ICE out now” and “Justice for Alex Pretti.”
Demonstrations have now spread from Minneapolis to cities including New York City, Washington DC, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Providence. - In New York, crowds gathered in Union Square chanting against ICE and calling for broader reforms.
- In Los Angeles, hundreds marched, holding signs denouncing federal immigration enforcement tactics.
- Vigils and solidarity protests were reported in New England cities such as Boston and Providence.
3) Political and Legal Fallout
Federal vs. Local Conflict - Minnesota Governor Tim Walz demanded federal immigration agents be removed, accusing them of being “untrained” and dangerous.
- State investigators and prosecutors sued federal authorities to preserve evidence and ensure a transition of control in the investigation.
- A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing DHS from destroying or altering evidence tied to Pretti’s death
Former Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the shooting, calling it heartbreaking and praising protesters defending their community. - Republican figures, including Vice President JD Vance, blamed local authorities and “agitators” for the unrest.
- Major groups like the AFL-CIO and NRA-aligned organizations are calling for full investigations and accountability, albeit from differing perspectives on the implications for law enforcement and gun rights.
Pretti was widely described by family, friends and community members as a kind, compassionate ICU nurse devoted to patients and neighbors. - Colleagues noted he rarely discussed politics; his family has strongly disputed federal claims about his actions, insisting video shows he was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
This is the second fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis this month, following the January 7 killing of Renée Good, which also sparked protests. - The wave of protests reflects widespread concern over the expansion of immigration enforcement operations, civil liberties, use of force by federal agents, and growing national political divisions.
