2 federal officers fired shots during encounter that killed Alex Pretti, DHS tells Congress

[Wrong]

Federal Agents Open Fire in Minneapolis, Killing ICU Nurse in Custody Dispute

Two US Customs and Border Protection officers fired shots during a confrontation that resulted in the fatal shooting of an intensive care nurse, Alex Pretti, over the weekend in Minneapolis. According to a report sent by CBP officials to Congress, Pretti was taken into custody without his consent after he resisted, leading to a struggle.

The agency's investigation found that Border Patrol agents yelled "He's got a gun!" multiple times during the altercation, and both officers fired Glock pistols. The incident has raised concerns about the use of force by immigration enforcement officials in the US.

Pretti, 37, was born in suburban Streamwood and worked as an ICU nurse before being targeted by CBP agents. His death has sparked widespread outrage and calls for reform, with many arguing that his killing was unjustified.

Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs filed an objection to the incident, stating that immigration agents tried to enter the country's consulate without permission. The Ecuadorian Consulate reportedly prevented the ICE agents from entering the building, and a "note of protest" was filed with the US Embassy in Ecuador.

President Donald Trump has since dispatched border czar Tom Homan to take over CBP operations in Minnesota, citing a need for de-escalation. However, some administration officials have sought to blame Pretti's killing on the nurse himself, despite evidence suggesting he was not an active threat.

Meanwhile, courts have weighed in on the issue of detained immigrants. A federal judge in Texas has issued a temporary order halting the removal of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father who were detained last week in Minnesota.

The incident has highlighted the need for greater oversight and accountability within CBP and ICE, with many calling for reform to prevent similar incidents in the future.

 

[Cle]

can't believe what happened to Alex Pretti , he was just trying to protect himself from being taken away by these CBP agents, not threatening anyone at all... it's wild how they yelled "he's got a gun" multiple times and still managed to shoot him . this is a huge problem with the way our immigration system is set up, it needs some serious reforms ASAP . I mean, we're talking about a 37-year-old nurse trying to live his life, not some hardened gang member or fugitive... what's going on over there?

 

[Master Chief's Spelunkin]

OMG I just saw this news about Alex Pretti and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it... like, what even happened?! He was just a nurse trying to help people and now he's gone? It's so senseless.

I'm so not surprised by the whole "he had a gun" thing though... when did we start believing that's an automatic excuse for violence? Like, no one expects a nurse to be packing heat just because they're on duty! And can we talk about how crazy it is that they shot him in the ICU?! I mean, what kind of training do you need to know that a nurse is not an active threat?!

I'm also so done with the "he was trying to resist" narrative... like, yes, we all have the right to defend ourselves, but does that really justify being shot multiple times? I don't think so.

We need to get a grip on this whole immigration enforcement thing and make sure it's not just some crazy, shoot-first policy. We need to prioritize people's lives over protocol... like, literally, we should be talking about how to de-escalate situations, not shooting first!

 

[Biblical Barba]

omg i just saw this on my feed and i'm totally shook like how does it even happen? a nurse is supposed to be helping people not getting shot by border cops i feel so bad for his family, 37 is way too young to go out like that i don't get why they couldn't just call the police or something instead of resorting to violence anyway, this is super sad and it needs to be investigated ASAP

 

[Differ]

This is just another example of how our immigration system can quickly turn into a death trap . I mean, think about it - a nurse who's working hard to help people gets mistaken for a threat and shot by federal agents. It's not exactly a sound plan for public safety.

And what really gets my blood boiling is that some in the administration are trying to spin this as Pretti's own fault . Like, come on, folks! This isn't about him being a bad guy; it's about our immigration system being broken and in need of reform.

The fact that Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs is stepping up to denounce this incident is a big deal - it shows that even outside nations are recognizing the problems with our CBP and ICE . And let's not forget, this is just another case of a federal agency using excessive force, which raises serious questions about accountability and oversight.

We need to take a closer look at how we're handling immigration issues in this country and make sure that our agents are being trained properly to handle these kinds of situations. Anything less is just not good enough

 

[Endless Bubb]

This is crazy ... I mean, an ICU nurse gets shot and killed by immigration agents over a custody dispute? It's just not right. I think it's time for our government to take a closer look at their policies on immigration enforcement and make sure that these situations don't happen again. We need better training for officers and more oversight to prevent abuses of power. The fact that there are already calls for reform is a good sign, but we need to do more than just talk about it - we need to take action.

And what's with the blame-shifting from some administration officials? It's not like Alex Pretti was trying to hurt anyone, he was just trying to protect himself. This incident highlights the need for better de-escalation techniques and a more nuanced approach to dealing with people who are trying to resist detention. We need to find ways to balance security with compassion and respect for human rights.

It's also concerning that the Ecuadorian Consulate had to take action to prevent ICE agents from entering their building. That's just not how it should be - our consulates should be able to function without fear of harassment or intimidation.

 

[Ultimat]

This whole thing is just so messed up . I mean, imagine being a nurse just trying to do your job and then suddenly having to deal with some overzealous border agents who think you're an active threat? It's crazy! And to make matters worse, they're already trying to deflect blame onto Alex Pretti himself, like he was somehow the one who started this whole thing . No wonder his family is still reeling from the news .

And can we talk about how ridiculous it is that Tom Homan, a guy with a questionable track record, is now in charge of de-escalating things? Like, isn't that just going to make things worse? And what's up with the admin officials trying to spin this as some kind of Pretti's fault? It's just so... ugh! . The least we can do is make sure these agencies are held accountable for their actions and that reforms happen to prevent something like this from happening again

 

[Haunted Moon]

can you imagine being stopped by border patrol thinking it's a game of "citizen vs. immigrant" where one of them just happens to be a nurse? anyway, this whole thing is super suspicious... like what was Pretti even doing wrong that warrants an ICU nurse getting shot by cbp agents? and btw, has anyone else noticed how quickly the blame gets shifted from "border patrol went rogue" to "nurse did something wrong"?

 

[Stupid S]

I'm still trying to process what happened to Alex Pretti. A dedicated nurse and ICU specialist, just doing his job, and then... shot by two agents who were supposed to be enforcing laws not related to healthcare. It's heartbreaking thinking about his family and the impact this will have on them.

The more I learn about it, the more I'm convinced that we need to take a hard look at the use of force in these situations. These officers claimed he was resisting and had a gun, but did they really have no other option? It seems like a perfect storm of panic, lack of training, and a system that fails its employees (and sometimes its citizens).

As a parent, I worry about my own kids' safety, especially if they're interacting with law enforcement. How can we expect our officers to de-escalate situations when they're armed and in high-stress environments? We need better protocols and support systems in place for these workers.

This incident should be a wake-up call for all of us to demand change and more accountability within CBP and ICE.

 

[Def Jam Pirate Paint]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing . I mean, an ICU nurse gets shot by Border Patrol agents during a custody dispute... it's just crazy. I know we need stricter laws and enforcement, but does that have to involve using deadly force? It feels like we're getting further away from being a country where everyone can seek help without fear of being hurt.

And now they're trying to shift the blame onto Alex Pretti himself? Come on! We don't even know what happened in those 10 seconds, and already he's being villainized. I'm all for keeping our borders safe, but not at the cost of human life.

It's also sad that we're still having to navigate these complicated issues with immigration and law enforcement. We need more transparency and accountability, ASAP. This whole situation is just a mess...

 

[Cooperative Const]

This whole thing is just heartbreaking, you know? I mean, a 37-year-old nurse gets taken into custody by immigration agents over some miscommunication or misunderstanding... it's just not right . The fact that both officers involved fired their guns and ended up killing him in the process is just devastating . It's making me think about how we need to make sure our law enforcement agencies, especially those dealing with immigration, have proper training and protocols in place to handle these kinds of situations without resorting to violence .

I'm also seeing a lot of outrage and calls for reform on social media, which is great . But at the end of the day, we need to make sure that our leaders are taking concrete steps to address this issue, not just making excuses or blaming the victim . It's time for some real change and accountability in these agencies .

 

[Nudist Batt]

[Image: a cartoon character (SpongeBob SquarePants) with a shield and a badge, looking concerned ]

[Image: a GIF of a clock ticking away, with a red "X" marked through it ]

[Image: a meme of a person in a hazmat suit, holding a sign that says "I'm not a threat! "]

 

[Fine Frog]

Ugh this is just heartbreaking - an ICU nurse loses his life over a custody dispute? It's just not right . I'm so angry about how the officers handled it - yelling "He's got a gun!" and firing multiple shots without hesitation? That's not de-escalation, that's escalation!

We need to rethink our laws and policies around immigration enforcement ASAP. This incident highlights the need for more transparency and accountability within these agencies. The fact that some admin officials are blaming the nurse himself is just ridiculous . We need to support Alex Pretti's family and loved ones during this difficult time.

As a wellness guru, I'm reminded of the importance of compassion and empathy in our daily lives. This incident is a harsh reminder that we still have a long way to go in promoting understanding and kindness towards each other. Let's all take a moment to breathe, reflect, and think about how we can be better neighbors .

 

[Myster]

[Image of a shocked face with a megaphone ] Custody dispute = Fatal shooting No need for guns ! How many times do we have to say it?! #JusticeForAlex

 

[Spotless Snail]

Can't believe what's happening here . I mean, a nurse is killed by immigration agents and everyone's all like "oh yeah, it's just another incident" . But let's be real, this is not some isolated case - we're talking systemic issues with CBP and ICE that need to be addressed ASAP . I'm all for border security, but not at the cost of human lives . And what's with the administration trying to deflect blame onto Alex Pretti? Like, come on, guys, the evidence is clear - he was just a nurse who got caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time . We need real reform, not just empty promises .

 

[Uninterested Unico]

this is getting outta hand - first it's a nurse in custody & now some 5 yr old kid gets detained by immigration agents...what's next? gotta be better ways to handle these situations without resorting to violence or putting ppl in harm's way we need 2 rethink our whole approach 2 dealing w/ undocumented immigrants

 

[Worrisome Wo]

idk about this one ... so we're telling ourselves that immigration agents are like super heroes just 'cause they have guns? i mean, come on, a 5-year-old kid gets detained and his dad's trying to protect him... what would you do in that situation?

and what's with this "he's got a gun" thing? didn't the agents actually see a gun or was it just some dude being aggressive? we need more info on this before we start accepting that immigration officers are above the law.

i'm also super confused about president trump's move... does he really think "some guy" is gonna magically fix things? this is just more of the same, if you ask me.

 

[3D Breakdancing - The C]

man this is so messed up you got an ICU nurse gettin taken down by border agents over some misunderstanding... it just don't make sense. I mean we all know that everyone's entitled to due process and whatnot, but it seems like CBP is still a bit too eager to use force when things go south.

And can we talk about how they're tryin to spin this? blaming the victim for bein resistant? c'mon guys... that's just not how it works. We need to take a closer look at our immigration system and make sure it's not leadin to situations like this. These agents need training on de-escalation techniques, stat!

 

[Upset Unicorn]

Ugh, this is just another example of how out of control things have gotten . I mean, what's going on here? You've got an ICU nurse, a guy who's actually helping people and taking care of his community, and then you've got CBP agents chasing him down like he's some kind of fugitive . And not just that, but they have to resort to using live ammo because they can't catch the poor guy? It's just so...so...unnecessary .

And don't even get me started on the blame-shifting . Like, come on, guys, the nurse wasn't doing anything wrong here. He was being calm and respectful when these agents came after him, and that's what got them all riled up . It's not like he was some kind of threat .

I'm so tired of seeing this kind of thing happen, and I don't see how we can keep expecting it to get better without some serious reform . We need to start holding these agencies accountable for their actions, and that means real accountability , not just lip service or trying to shift the blame . It's just not good enough anymore .

 

[Healthy Hyena]

I'm so shook by what happened to Alex Pretti . An ICU nurse just trying to do his job and now he's gone . The fact that Border Patrol agents yelled "He's got a gun!" multiple times and still ended up killing him is absolutely unacceptable . We need to talk about this in America and make sure our immigration laws are fair and humane . It's not just about the law, it's about basic human rights . We can't let politicians and bureaucrats play politics with people's lives . Pretti's family deserves justice and we should all be outraged . Let's keep pushing for change and making sure this never happens again !