The family of Alex Pretti, an American citizen and ICU nurse who was fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, has spoken publicly for the first time in an exclusive interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
In the emotional interview, which aired on August 25, 2026, Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, and his sister, Micayla Pretti, detailed their grief, their frustration with the lack of transparency in the investigation, and their demand for justice. The family’s public appeal comes as the Department of Justice’s civil rights investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, with no officers charged or publicly identified.
“We’ve seen what happened. The videos are pretty clear. But we want justice. We want accountability for the people that did this to Alex,” Michael Pretti said during the interview.
His mother, Susan Pretti, issued a stark accusation against the officers involved: “They murdered our child. People need to be held responsible when they murder people in this country. Period.”
Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old American citizen who lived in Minneapolis. He worked as an intensive care unit nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs and was a graduate of Green Bay Preble High School in Wisconsin.
According to his family, Pretti was deeply committed to his community and had a strong sense of justice. His father, Michael Pretti, described him as someone who “cared deeply about his community” and wanted “people to be treated fairly, no matter what walk of life, what their background was.”
Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry a firearm, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. His only previous interactions with law enforcement were reportedly related to parking tickets. His family has emphasized that he had no criminal record.
The shooting occurred on the morning of January 24, 2026, in south Minneapolis, near the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street. Federal immigration officers, including agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, were conducting what the Department of Homeland Security described as a “targeted operation” as part of the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge” immigration enforcement effort.
Witness video footage captured the events leading up to the shooting and has become central to public understanding of the incident.
According to video evidence analyzed by multiple news organizations:
The video footage does not show Pretti brandishing a weapon or pointing a gun at officers before the shooting.
In a devastating detail, the Pretti family revealed they learned of their son’s death by watching the coverage on television after receiving an anonymous phone call asking if they had spoken with Alex.
“That’s how we found out, watching it on TV. Watching our son be shot ten times on TV,” Michael Pretti said.
His mother added that the shots were “in the back.”
“No one called us. No one,” Michael Pretti said. “We still haven’t heard from them,” Susan Pretti added.
The “Good Morning America” interview, conducted by co-anchor George Stephanopoulos, marked the family’s first television appearance since the shooting.
Michael Pretti said his son was observing immigration activity when the shooting occurred, not actively participating as a protester. “He cared deeply about his community. Minneapolis was his community,” he said.
The family expressed outrage that seven months after their son’s death, they still do not know the names of the officers who shot him.
Asked what justice looks like for them, Micayla Pretti said she wants the names of the agents officially released. The family attorney, Steve Schleicher, said: “They at least have the right to know who shot Alex Pretti.”
The family addressed public statements made by Trump administration officials following the shooting. Former Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino claimed Pretti wanted “to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” while then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled him a “domestic terrorist.”
President Donald Trump later posted on social media that Pretti was an “agitator” and “perhaps” an “insurrectionist” after video emerged of a previous confrontation between Pretti and federal agents 11 days before the shooting.
When asked about the response, Michael Pretti said, “There was more effort in vilifying him than pursuing justice, investigating this.”
“It’s so un-presidential,” he added. “It’s ridiculous that, you know, the leader of the free world speaks that way about an American citizen.”
Susan Pretti said she wants an apology for what was said about her son: “Why shouldn’t we get one?”
According to the family and their attorney, the timeline of events surrounding the shooting remains disputed:
The Family’s Account:
The Family’s Demands:
The Family’s Accusation: Susan Pretti made the family’s position clear: “They murdered our child.”
The Department of Homeland Security initially provided a different account of the shooting, stating that officers were conducting a “targeted operation” when a man approached with a semi-automatic handgun. The agency said officers attempted to disarm him and he “violently resisted,” and that an agent “fired defensive shots.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti “committed an act of domestic terrorism.” However, Noem did not provide information on whether Pretti had brandished the weapon.
A DHS report obtained by ABC News stated that two federal officers fired their weapons in the shooting and did not state that Pretti reached for a gun.
Customs and Border Protection confirmed the two agents involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave following standard protocol.
Multiple investigations into the shooting have been launched, but progress has been slow.
The Department of Justice opened a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting. The Department of Homeland Security and FBI are also involved.
The White House has confirmed three federal investigations:
The Pretti family attorney, Steve Schleicher, told ABC News that the family does not know the status of the Justice Department investigation. In a letter to then-Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Schleicher stated that the U.S. attorney in Minnesota met with the family on July 13 but “the meeting raised more questions than answers.”
A DOJ spokesperson said: “As is standard protocol, family member communications, if any, come at a later stage of a case, such as at indictment, initial appearance, plea, trial, or sentencing. Communications with family do not typically occur during an investigation.”
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was blocked by federal authorities from gathering evidence at the scene. The BCA sought a restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security to prevent destruction of evidence; a federal judge lifted the order after determining concerns over evidence tampering were “undeveloped.”
In July 2026, federal prosecutors turned over long-withheld evidence, including hard drives containing statements and body camera video, to Minnesota investigators. However, the Pretti family attorney said federal authorities refused to confirm any cooperation agreement between state and federal agencies, “continuing to deny the Pretti family basic information that they have been requesting for months.”
The shooting of Alex Pretti occurred during heightened tensions in Minneapolis over federal immigration enforcement. It came just two weeks after another U.S. citizen, Renee Good, was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026.
Both shootings sparked nationwide outrage and demands for accountability. The deaths occurred during the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge,” an immigration enforcement operation in the city.
The Minnesota House and Senate People of Color and Indigenous Caucus issued a statement condemning the shooting and calling for the arrest of the officers involved. Governor Tim Walz criticized federal officials for attempting to “spin a narrative” before an investigation was complete.
The operation officially concluded in February 2026, with border tsar Tom Homan announcing the drawdown of federal agents.
The shooting sparked protests and renewed calls from local leaders for federal agents to leave Minneapolis. The Minnesota House and Senate POCI Caucus demanded a thorough investigation and urged members of Congress to block funding for ICE.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 7, 2026 | Renee Good shot and killed by ICE officer in Minneapolis |
| January 24, 2026 | Alex Pretti shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis |
| January 24-25, 2026 | Family learns of shooting by watching television news coverage |
| January 25-27, 2026 | DHS and Trump officials label Pretti a “domestic terrorist” |
| January 28, 2026 | DHS sends initial report to Congress stating two officers fired; report does not claim Pretti reached for gun |
| February 2026 | Family calls for joint state/federal investigation |
| July 13, 2026 | U.S. attorney meets with Pretti family |
| July 2026 | Federal prosecutors turn over previously withheld evidence to Minnesota investigators |
| August 25, 2026 | Family gives exclusive interview to “Good Morning America” |
Seven months after the shooting, significant questions remain unanswered:
The Pretti family’s interview marks their first public effort to directly address the nation about their son’s death. Their willingness to speak out, coupled with their emotional testimony and direct accusations against the officers involved, is likely to keep national attention focused on the case and the broader debate over federal immigration enforcement tactics. The interview presents the family’s perspective directly to the public, countering the initial narrative put forward by federal officials.
Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old American citizen who lived in Minneapolis. He worked as an ICU nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He was described by his family as someone who cared deeply about his community and fairness.
Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, while he was observing and recording federal immigration activity. Video shows he was unarmed when he was wrestled to the ground and shot approximately 10 times.
The family is speaking out seven months after the shooting to demand accountability, transparency, and the release of the names of the officers who shot their son. They have expressed frustration with the lack of information and progress in the investigation.
The family told “Good Morning America” that they want justice and accountability for their son’s death. Susan Pretti said, “They murdered our child.” The family also expressed outrage that they learned of the shooting by watching television news coverage.
The shooting occurred in south Minneapolis, near the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street.
The Department of Justice has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting. The Department of Homeland Security and FBI are also involved.
The Department of Homeland Security initially stated that officers fired in self-defense after Pretti approached with a handgun and resisted disarmament. However, video evidence does not show Pretti brandishing a weapon. A DHS report submitted to Congress did not state that Pretti reached for a gun.
No. The investigation is ongoing. The family’s attorney has stated that the family does not know the status of the DOJ’s investigation.
The family is demanding the release of the names of the officers who shot Pretti, accountability for those responsible, and a formal apology for public statements made by officials that vilified their son.
The federal investigation continues. The family may continue to press for transparency and accountability through public advocacy. No timeline for charges or the conclusion of the investigation has been announced.
The August 2026 interview with the family of Alex Pretti marks a significant moment in a case that has drawn national attention to the use of force by federal immigration officers. Seven months after the shooting death of the 37-year-old ICU nurse, his family has publicly voiced their grief, their demands for accountability, and their frustration with the lack of transparency.
The phrase “They murdered our child,” spoken by Susan Pretti, encapsulates the family’s belief that the shooting was unjustified and that those responsible must be held to account. As the federal civil rights investigation continues without public resolution, the Pretti family’s public appeal ensures the case remains in the national spotlight, applying pressure for answers that have yet to come.
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