Federal Agents Kill Nurse in Minneapolis Amid Surge

Federal agents fatally shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24, marking the second such incident in weeks amidst an immigration enforcement surge, according to CBS News. This tragic event occurred near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, further escalating tensions between federal and local authorities.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz strongly criticized the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) account of self-defense, stating that video evidence contradicts their claims, as reported by MPR News. Governor Walz characterized federal operations as a "campaign of organized brutality" against the state.

The governor explicitly rejected the federal government's narrative, telling Anadolu Ajansı that "it's nonsense… and it's lies". He emphasized that the state's justice system would ultimately investigate the shooting, not federal agencies.

This incident follows the fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good, 37, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on January 7, 2026, intensifying public outrage, The Guardian reported. Both shootings have occurred during "Operation Metro Surge," described by PBS as the largest federal immigration enforcement operation ever in the region.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. citizen and lawful gun owner, worked at the Minneapolis VA hospital and had participated in protests against federal immigration crackdowns, his parents told The Associated Press. His family expressed heartbreak and anger over the "sickening lies" told about their son.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also voiced outrage, calling for the "Trump administration and the invasion of federal agents get out of our City," according to local reports. The city's Police Chief, Brian O'Hara, confirmed the shooting but noted limited information from DHS.

• Escalating Federal Presence and "Operation Metro Surge": The fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti occurred amid "Operation Metro Surge," an extensive federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis and St. Paul, which began in December 2025 or early January 2026. This operation has deployed thousands of federal agents, including from ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to the region, leading to thousands of arrests and heightened community tensions, as detailed by PBS.

• Contradictory Accounts and Video Evidence: While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed Pretti was armed and resisted, leading to "defensive shots," Governor Tim Walz and other officials dispute this, citing video evidence. CBS News reported that videos from the scene show Pretti holding a cellphone, not a gun, and an agent emerging from a scuffle with a weapon, directly contradicting the federal narrative.

• Previous Fatal Incident and Community Impact: Pretti's death is the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis within weeks, following the killing of Renee Macklin Good on January 7, 2026, by an ICE officer. This pattern has fueled widespread protests and a general strike on January 23, 2026, reflecting profound community anger and a "lasting, generational impact" on residents, as noted by Minneapolis Emergency Management Director Rachel Sayre.

• Inter-Governmental Conflict and Legal Challenges: The incident has intensified a severe rift between federal and local authorities. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, alongside Minneapolis and Saint Paul, filed a federal lawsuit against DHS to halt the surge, alleging violations of the First and Tenth Amendments, according to reports. Governor Walz has also mobilized the Minnesota National Guard to assist local police amid growing protests.

• Political Reactions and Accusations: The situation has drawn sharp political reactions, with Vice President JD Vance criticizing local officials for non-cooperation with ICE, as reported by pbs. Conversely, President Donald Trump accused Governor Walz and Mayor Frey of "inciting insurrection" due to their responses to the killings, according to The New Arab. Congressional Democrats have called for accountability, including the abolition of ICE and the resignation of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

• Denial of Access to Shooting Scene: Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported that state investigators were blocked by DHS personnel from accessing the shooting scene after Minneapolis police requested assistance, according to Anadolu Ajansı. This denial of access further complicates the investigation and fuels local officials' distrust of federal oversight.