Chilling Final Words Revealed — Alex Pretti’s Parents Recall Their Last Call With Their Son Days Before He Was Killed, His Father Urging Him to ‘Be Careful and Not Engage’… But What Happened Next Is Something They Will Regret for the Rest of Their Lives
It was supposed to be an ordinary conversation between a father and son — a few words about everyday life, some light laughter, and small talk about house repairs. But in the days that followed, that final phone call between 37‑year‑old ICU nurse Alex Pretti and his parents would become a haunting echo of what was to come: a tragic and violent ending that has consumed a city and ignited national debate.
Alex, a dedicated healthcare worker known for his compassion and kindness, was preparing to join a protest in Minneapolis — a city already simmering with tension amid widespread federal immigration enforcement operations. His father, Michael Pretti, urged him to “be careful and not engage” with authorities, emphasizing that his priority should be safety. Alex assured them that he understood.
But within days, that last conversation — filled with warmth and ordinary concerns — would be overshadowed by images of chaos, conflicting eyewitness accounts, and his tragic killing at the hands of federal agents.
A Son Described as Kind, Thoughtful, and Always Helping Others
Alex Jeffrey Pretti was not a face known for headlines. He wasn’t a public figure or a political operative. Friends, colleagues, and neighbors described him as a thoughtful man who lived by simple, human principles: help where you can, care deeply for others, and treat people with respect.
Born in 1988 in the Midwest, Alex grew up in a community where family, service, and hard work were values shared by his parents. He went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota and became a registered nurse, specializing in critical care at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. There, he worked long hours in the ICU, tending to some of the most vulnerable members of the community — military veterans who had sacrificed so much.
He earned the respect of coworkers and patients alike, not through grand gestures or dramatic speeches, but through quiet competence and a steady calm that comforted others in crisis. A local priest who knew Alex from his work at the VA remembered him as a gentle and warm-hearted caregiver, urging people to “not pay any attention to the vilification from our national leaders.”
Away from work, Alex was an avid outdoorsman and a lawful gun owner who held a Minnesota permit to carry — a fact that would later become a contentious part of how the fatal encounter was described by federal officials.
The Minneapolis Backdrop: Rising Tensions Over Federal Immigration Enforcement
By January 2026, Minneapolis had become a flashpoint for national tensions over immigration enforcement. The federal government had launched “Operation Metro Surge,” deploying thousands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents into the city as part of an aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration.
But Operation Metro Surge also sparked fierce protests and civil unrest. Just weeks before Alex’s death, another Minneapolis resident, Renée Good, had been fatally shot by an ICE agent — an event that triggered mass demonstrations and outrage across the community.
It was into this environment that Alex chose to step — not as a combatant or provocateur, but as someone hoping to stand in solidarity with his neighbors, to bear witness, and to support peaceful protest. He joined roughly 50 others in confronting federal agents on a cold January morning.
That Final Phone Call: Ordinary Moments, Extraordinary Consequences
The last conversation Alex had with his parents was not one of worry, fear, or political grandstanding — it was about normal life. They talked about mundane things: fixing the garage door, tipping the handyman generously, and how Alex’s small acts of kindness were noticed even in turbulent times. In fact, Alex told his parents he had tipped a Latino handyman $100 because he was concerned about ICE activity in the area — a gesture that reflected Alex’s empathy even amid conflict.
Michael and Susan Pretti were supportive of Alex’s desire to protest peacefully — but they begged him not to put himself in harm’s way. “Go ahead and protest,” his father told him, “but do not engage. Do not do anything stupid.” And Alex repeatedly assured them he understood.
Yet days later, the outcome would be a nightmare that no parent should ever have to endure — and one they will regret forever.
The Fatal Encounter: Conflicting Narratives, Witness Accounts, and Unearthed Footage
On January 24, 2026, around 9:05 a.m., Alex was near the corner of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue when events took a horrific turn. Federal agents — U.S. Border Patrol officers conducting an immigration operation — confronted a scene of protesters and local civilians.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security quickly issued a statement claiming that Alex had approached them with a handgun, resisted attempts to disarm him, and posed a threat. But within hours, eyewitness videos and accounts began to paint a vastly different picture.
According to bystander footage and multiple witnesses:
Alex was holding only his phone, not a gun — and was recording agents when they confronted a nearby woman who had been shoved to the ground.
He did not brandish his firearm; it remained holstered. Local police confirmed he had a permit and a clean criminal record.
In the moments leading up to the shooting, Alex attempted to help another protester, even as agents pepper-sprayed him.
Several agents surrounded and overpowered him; then, out of sight of many onlookers, he was shot multiple times while pinned to the ground.
One witness claimed Alex was shot as many as ten times in a span of seconds — an event that left stunned bystanders screaming at the agents.
Aftermath: Outrage, Investigation, and Deepening Divisions
The shooting set off a firestorm in Minneapolis and beyond. Protests grew in size and intensity as videos circulated showing the discrepancy between federal officials’ narrative and what bystanders recorded.
Local authorities, civil rights advocates, and even elected officials challenged the federal account:
Minneapolis Mayor and Minnesota officials demanded federal agents leave the city.
Protesters and community organizations called for accountability and justice for Alex and others who had been harmed by immigration enforcement tactics.
Investigations into possible civil rights violations began, with broader questions raised about federal tactics in civilian communities.
While some national figures defended the actions of agents, many others condemned the shooting as excessive force and argued the initial government narrative was misleading at best.
A Family’s Painful Plea: Remembering the Real Alex
In the days after the tragedy, Alex’s parents released a statement that revealed not anger alone, but deep sorrow and a desire for truth. They rejected the official portrayal of their son as a threat — calling it “sickening lies” — and implored the public to understand the real person he was: a man devoted to healing others, not harming them.
“Please get the truth out about our son,” they said. The words of a last phone call with their child — tender, ordinary, and full of love — now stand in stark contrast to the violent and chaotic end he met.
What Happened Next — And What We Can’t Forget
The weeks and months following Alex’s death continue to unfold as investigations proceed and debates over federal enforcement policies rage. But one thing remains clear: the ordinary final words between parent and child — “be careful,” “don’t engage,” “stay safe” — were failed warnings of a tragedy that should never have happened.
In the end, the world did not just lose an ICU nurse. Minneapolis lost a neighbor. A community lost a healer. His parents lost a son. And society is left to reckon with how far we have strayed from the values Alex lived by: compassion, service, and care for others.
His father’s words, meant to protect, will now echo forever as a chilling reminder — not just of what happened next, but of the human cost behind every headline.
