Family Defends Slain VA Nurse: “DISGUSTING LIES” About Alex Pretti – Sister Micayla Calls Him a Hero, Ignites Calls for Full Truth and Justice

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The sister of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, the 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse fatally shot by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on January 24, 2026, has unleashed a powerful public statement condemning what she calls “disgusting lies” about her brother’s character and actions. Micayla Pretti’s emotional words, now viral across social media and news outlets, portray Alex as a compassionate healer dedicated to veterans, while slamming portrayals of him as an agitator or threat. Her message has amplified nationwide demands for transparency, independent probes, and accountability amid protests, vigils, and a Justice Department civil rights investigation.

Alex Pretti died after being shot multiple times during an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue. Eyewitness videos show him recording agents with his phone before a struggle, where agents pepper-sprayed him, pinned him down, and fired about 10 shots in under five seconds. A government report to Congress confirms two CBP agents discharged their weapons—a Glock 19 and Glock 47—but omits details of Pretti reaching for a firearm. He was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center shortly after.

Federal officials, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, described Pretti as arriving “to inflict maximum damage” and possibly an “insurrectionist.” Unearthed videos from January 13 show a prior clash where Pretti allegedly spat, cursed, and kicked a federal vehicle’s taillight before being tackled. Critics argue these incidents were non-lethal and contextually tied to anti-ICE protests during heightened enforcement under the second Trump administration.

Micayla Pretti’s statement, released late January 27 and shared widely, counters sharply: “Alex was kind, generous, and had a way of lighting up every room he walked into. He was incredibly intelligent and deeply passionate, and he made people feel safe.” She highlighted his lifelong drive: “All Alex ever wanted was to help someone—anyone. Even in his very last moments on this earth, he was simply trying to do just that.”

Expressing profound grief, she wrote: “I had the privilege of being his little sister for 32 years. I will never be able to hug him, laugh with him, or cry to him again because of those thugs—and that is a pain no words can fully capture.” Micayla condemned smears as “absolutely gut-wrenching” and asked: “When does this end? How many more innocent lives must be lost before we say enough? Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching.”

She concluded: “My brother is, and always will be, my hero.”

Pretti, born in 1988, lived in Minneapolis’s Lyndale neighborhood. After working in research science, he earned his RN license in 2021 and specialized in ICU care at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, treating critically ill veterans. Colleagues remember him as empathetic, skilled, and mentoring— “a kind-hearted soul” who “touched more lives than he probably ever realized,” per family and friends. He held a concealed carry permit but had no criminal record.

The shooting, part of Operation Metro Surge, has sparked outrage. Nursing groups like the American Nurses Association and National Nurses United demand full investigations, calling federal tactics a public health threat. Protests erupted in Minneapolis and beyond, with candlelight vigils honoring Pretti’s legacy as a healer killed while advocating.

Family attorney Steve Schleicher highlighted prior agent violence against Pretti. Parents Michael and Susan Pretti described their son as devoted to family, friends, and veterans.

A DOJ civil rights probe is underway, with calls for body-cam footage and witness accounts. Senators paused DHS funding discussions over the incident. As Micayla’s words fuel momentum, Pretti’s story challenges official narratives—raising urgent questions about accountability in immigration enforcement.