As Minneapolis grapples with another shooting at the hands of federal agents, a video has circulated online, showing Alex Pretti, who was killed on Saturday, giving a final salute to a veteran patient he cared for at the Minneapolis VA hospital.
Mac Randolph shared the video of Pretti’s heartfelt tribute to WCCO and CBS News Minnesota. Pretti, an ICU nurse, treated Randolph’s father. After he died, Pretti shared his message during a final salute, a process in which VA staff and visitors can honor veterans for a few minutes as the body is rolled out of the patient’s room, draped in an American flag.
“Today, we remember that freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it and even sacrifice for it,” Pretti says in the video. “May we never forget and always remember our brothers and sisters who have served, so that we may enjoy the gift of freedom. So, in this moment, we remember and give thanks for their dedication and selfless service to our nation in the cause of freedom. In this solemn hour, we render our honor and our gratitude.”
Following his shocking death, many friends, family members and co-workers remembered Pretti as a kind soul who cared for others. In fact, he changed career paths to become a nurse and help veterans.
Nature Lover, Kind Soul
Pretti loved the outdoors, especially exploring nature with his dog, Joule, who died recently as well, according to Pretti’s family.
After Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, Pretti began protesting on the streets of Minneapolis as federal agents continued to ramp up immigration enforcement.
“Today, we remember that freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it and even sacrifice for it,” Pretti says in the video.
Pretti’s mother said the VA nurse cared deeply about the nation’s direction and was alarmed after Good was shot three times, believing her killing was unjust. As a staunch environmentalist, Pretti’s mother said he was concerned about the Trump administration’s rollback of environmental guidelines.
“He hated that, you know, people were just trashing the land,” Susan Pretti said. “He was an outdoorsman. He took his dog everywhere he went. You know, he loved this country, but he hated what people were doing to it.”
Growing up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Pretti enjoyed an active childhood, playing baseball, football and running track at Preble High School. He was also a Boy Scout and performed in the Green Bay Boy Choir.
Upon graduating from Preble, Pretti attended the University of Minnesota, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2011 in biology, society and the environment. His family said Pretti was employed as a research scientist but decided to return to school to pursue nursing.
Neighbors said Pretti pretty much stayed to himself, but was known as a kind, warmhearted individual.
“I didn't know Alex super well, but he was a great guy and neighbor,” a neighbor told WCCO. “He loved his car and took very good care of it. He used to have a dog that passed away a year or two ago, I think. I remember how sweet it was that, as his dog was more elderly and less mobile, he’d be willing to carry him down to the yard to get some fresh air and to enjoy the outdoors. His dog would lie down, and Alex would sit with him and pet him for long periods of time. He was very caring, you could tell. We are all heartbroken and are praying for his family and friends and for justice for him.”
Video Shows Shooting
It’s unclear if any charges will be filed against the officer who shot Pretti. After the shooting, the Department of Homeland Security stated that Pretti “approached” officers from U.S. Border Patrol carrying a 9mm semiautomatic pistol. However, DHS didn’t specify whether Pretti actually held the gun in his hand or was reaching for a weapon before being shot 10 times, including in the back as he knelt on the freezing pavement.
Bystander video obtained and verified by several news outlets, including ABC News, doesn’t appear to show Pretti holding a weapon, rather it shows him clutching his cellphone when the officer opened fire.
Prior to the shooting, a scuffle between Pretti and several federal agents broke out after Pretti attempted to help a woman that had been shoved and pepper sprayed by agents.
Pretti did own a handgun and family members said he had legally obtained a concealed carry permit. He had no criminal record and was a legal U.S. citizen.
Pretti’s family is pushing back heavily on claims from the federal government that their son was a “domestic terrorist.”
