Featured Image Credit: VA.gov
Topics: Politics, US News, Immigration
Poppy Bilderbeck
A medical examiner's office has ruled ICU nurse Alex Pretti's death as a 'homicide' after he was fatally shot by federal immigration agents.
On January 24, federal immigration agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in the streets of Minneapolis amid protests over the intensifying Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent presence in the area.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said federal officers shot the 37-year-old intensive care nurse in an act of self-defense, claiming Pretti had a handgun at the time.
However, footage around the time of the incident shows Pretti holding not a gun, but a mobile phone, and eyewitness accounts also contradict officials' claims.
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The 37-year-old's death came just weeks after Renee Good was shot by an ICE officer while in her car on January 7.
Yesterday (February 2), Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office released the results of its autopsy into the intensive care nurse's death, with the report being obtained by PEOPLE.
The cause of death is listed as a 'homicide', and Pretti is said to have died as a result of 'multiple gunshot wounds'. The report also confirmed Pretti had been 'shot by law enforcement officer(s)', with no other 'significant conditions' being listed as a possible cause of death.
In a statement shared to X, the DHS claimed officials were 'conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault, an individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a nine mm semi-automatic handgun'.
Alleging they were simply attempting to 'disarm the suspect,' DHS said '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," the statement added.
However, in video footage, Pretti can be seen being pushed to the sidewalk by a federal immigration agent, alongside another moment showing him going to help a woman who's been pushed into a pile of snow by another agent.
A witness further corroborated this, adding in their statement: "It didn’t look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up."
Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino has alleged Pretti was trying to 'massacre law enforcement,' but Pretti's family have spoken out, defending him and his memory against the 'Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs'.
Pretti's sister, Micayla, said: "Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching, and my family is deeply grateful so many people have stood up and helped tell his truth. He would be very proud."
If you or someone you know has been affected by gun violence, please find more information and support via Survivors Empowered on their website.