A man who was shot by federal agents Saturday morning in Minneapolis has died, federal and local authorities say.
The Associated Press identified the man as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse.
The incident happened just after 9 a.m. near the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said agents were conducting immigration enforcement when a man approached agents with a gun. When agents tried to disarm him, he “violently resisted.” One of the agents fired “defensive shots,” and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
DHS said the man had a 9 mm handgun with two magazines on him.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said his department believes the deceased is a Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen.
O’Hara said the man had no record of violent criminal offenses and was a “lawful” gun owner with a permit to carry.
The chief confirmed he ordered MPD officers to remain on scene to preserve evidence.
Video widely circulated on social media shows a man on the ground struggling with several agents before shots are fired. The video does not capture what led up to the encounter, nor does it appear to show a weapon.
A witness at the scene told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS agents tried to make their way inside a restaurant but were refused. That’s when agents “got aggressive with” a “peaceful observer” who was recording.
“Then when there were six, eight of them on top of one person, they decided to shoot them in cold blood,” the witness said.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS cameras arrived on scene and captured federal authorities, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, as well as Minneapolis and St. Paul police.
Tear gas and pepper balls have deployed at the scene, as some observers were seen throwing objects towards authorities at the intersection. Around 11:25 a.m., law enforcement announced over a loudspeaker that they had declared an unlawful assembly and ordered protesters to disperse.
Law enforcement cleared the scene, and demonstrators have erected barricades across Nicollet Avenue. Chopper footage shows hundreds of protesters in the area.
Minnesota National Guard Adj. Gen. Shawn Manke told reporters on Saturday his troops will go to the shooting scene and the Whipple Federal Building to keep the peace. Gov. Tim Walz had previously activated the Minnesota National Guard to respond to potential unrest in the Twin Cities.
A statement from the family of Alex Pretti, Michael and Susan Pretti, was released on Saturday night:
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is working to confirm more details on what has happened. This is a developing news story. Check back for updates.
captain_beefheart14 on January 24th, 2026 at 16:28 UTC »
Hopefully pink lady was able to get her footage sent off. She had a better vantage point.
TheStinkfoot on January 24th, 2026 at 16:23 UTC »
This was a sidewlk execution. The victim was pinned to the ground and they shot him five times.
These murderers need to pay.
lord-deathquake on January 24th, 2026 at 16:16 UTC »
The video is harrowing. Something like 6-8 ICE agents all piled on this one dude. One of them starts pistol whipping the guy in the face. Then a shot rings out, the ICE agents back off and the one with the gun just unloads repeatedly into the guy even after he is lying completely still on the sidewalk. Absolute savagery.