Care was his profession. Compassion was his reflex. 

Alex Pretti was an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA. He was known for his calm, caring, and compassionate nature that helped him provide high-quality,-value-added patient care, as well as inspire his colleagues to give the greatest possible help to those they serve through both his actions and words in their everyday lives.   

Alex attended the University of Minnesota prior to becoming an ICU nurse and performed research prior to working in the ICU. His passion for doing things outside included playing sports and being outdoors. So much so, in fact, that he really had a passion for helping and supporting others through the way he lived his life.

Events in Minneapolis – What Lead to his Shooting? 

Pretti was in attendance at a gathering in the area when tensions increased about federal authority activities to consolidate legal status for Hispanics in Minnesota due to Federal laws from the DHS. Local and federal agencies were carrying out enforcement actions aimed at undocumented people, and as a result, there had been protests prior to Pretti's shooting. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), while approaching and on the scene of a Border Patrol agent's arrest on undocumented immigrants, a federal agency Border Patrol officer shot Pretti

Community, Public, and Family Reactions to Family Relations 

Pretti's family have responded to the public record of his conduct in the presence of the police with great criticism of some of the statements made to the media regarding the incident, calling them "horrific lies," and asserting that he was not a danger to anybody when he was killed. In their public comments, the family has thanked those people who have spoken out in defense of him, and have emphasized how generous and committed he was to advocating for justice. 

The response to Pretti's death has generated anti-ICE protests throughout the United States, with groups forming in cities such as Madison to speak out against ICE and the Border Patrol's use of tactics, and to call for accountability and reform of the methods used by the government to enforce immigration laws. 

Many of the national political figures have commented on this situation, with some publicly condemning the shooting, while others have been part of an ongoing public debate on the use and involvement of federal law enforcement in their communities and in the conduct of protests.

Why His Story Resonates 

We find ourselves in a time where division and tension prevail; however, he serves as an example of all of the principles that make up nursing and all other types of caregiving — protecting life, making sure those who are voiceless have a voice and demonstrating empathy when situations are difficult.