Image: from ♡Land Of ILLUSION♡ X@Landofillusion1
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
MINNEAPOLIS — The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office has officially classified the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti as a homicide, according to a report released Monday. The findings confirm that Pretti, a local intensive care nurse, died from “multiple gunshot wounds” sustained during a January 24 encounter with federal agents.
The incident occurred near the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood. Pretti, who worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was reportedly observing a federal immigration enforcement action when he was confronted by agents.
BREAKING🚨: The Hennepin County Medical Examiner now lists Alex Pretti's manner of death as ‘HOMICIDE’ — shot multiple times by federal agents on Jan. 24.
🎥: @ThePatriotOasis pic.twitter.com/CTpzn6r9vn
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) February 2, 2026
The Findings
According to the medical examiner’s public data portal, the manner of death is listed as homicide, a term used in forensic pathology to indicate that a death was caused by the hand of another person. Officials noted that this classification is a statistical determination and does not necessarily imply criminal intent or legal culpability, which remain the subject of ongoing investigations.
The report also confirmed that an autopsy had been performed, though specific details regarding the number of rounds fired or the range of the shots were not immediately disclosed.
A Pattern of Conflict
Pretti’s death has become a flashpoint for local and national protests, particularly as it marks the third shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis within three weeks. The ruling follows a similar homicide classification in the death of Renee Good, another individual fatally shot by federal agents in early January.
The investigation into the shooting has been fraught with jurisdictional tension. Following the incident, Minnesota state investigators were initially denied access to the scene by federal authorities. This prompted Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to seek a temporary restraining order to preserve evidence, a move Ellison described as “uncharted territory.”
Community Impact
Alex Pretti was a well-known figure in the community, serving on the front lines as a nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center. Since his death, a growing memorial of flowers, portraits, and handwritten notes has occupied the site where he was killed.
As the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) continues its investigation, local leaders are calling for transparency. While federal agents involved in the shooting claim Pretti posed a threat, video analysis cited by local media suggests he was being restrained on the ground when the fatal shots were fired.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not yet issued a formal comment on the medical examiner’s latest ruling.