Family speaks out after anti-ICE protester fatally shot by feds identified as ICU nurse Alex Pretti

The family of an anti-ICE protestor have spoken out after he was fatally shot at the weekend.

ICU nurse Alex Pretti, 37, was killed in the middle of the street on Saturday (24 January) in Minneapolis, just weeks after the death of Renee Good, who was shot in her car by an ICE agent.

The Department of Homeland Security has said that federal immigration agents fired shots in a move of self defence, claiming Pretti had a handgun at the time.

Witnesses, family members, and even footage of the incident, have challenged this account, however, claiming he did not have a gun in his hand, but his phone instead.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told the BBC: "The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted. Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots.

"Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene."

Vigils have been held for Alex Pretti after he was shot dead by a federal immigration officer at the weekend (Arthur Maiorella/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Now, Pretti's family have spoken out, describing him as an outdoorsman who 'cared deeply' about other people.

“He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset,” said Pretti's father, Michael Pretti.

“He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests.”

Michael added: “We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically.

“And he said he knows that. He knew that.”

Protestors have been gathering since Pretti's death (Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Pretti had no criminal convictions, with his family noting he had never had any interactions with the police.

However, Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino has since claimed that Pretti was trying to 'massacre law enforcement'.

But Pretti's family have urged others to 'help get the truth out about our son'.

They said: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs."

The family claim that Pretti's hands were visible and he had been trying to protect a woman standing nearby.

Demonstrations have been taking place in Minneapolis (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

On Truth Social, President Donald Trump shared a photo of a handgun, writing: "This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about?

"Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off?

"It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do!"