Parents of Slain Nurse Alex Pretti Accuse Federal Government of Shielding Agents

POLICY WIRE — Minneapolis, USA — The parents of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse fatally shot by federal immigration agents in January, declared on Tuesday that the federal government is actively protecting the officers involved in their son’s death. Michael and Susan Pretti stated that they have received no substantive communication from federal authorities for nine months.

During a press conference in Minneapolis, the family urged the Department of Justice to pursue accountability for the killing of their 37-year-old son. The parents highlighted recent court filings indicating that federal prosecutors have ceased sharing evidence with Minnesota state investigators, who are conducting their own inquiry into the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good.

Susan Pretti criticized the administration’s narrative, noting that officials initially attempted to portray her son—a U.S. citizen and veteran’s hospital nurse—as an armed threat. While then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled him a domestic terrorist, court records confirm Pretti had no criminal history, and bystander footage shows him holding only a mobile phone at the time of the incident.

The family, represented by attorney Steve Schleicher, expressed frustration over being stonewalled by U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen. Despite a meeting in July, the family reported that federal officials refused to provide basic updates on the status of the investigation.

Minnesota state officials continue to pursue legal action to gain access to evidence, including officer cellphones and interview recordings, which the Trump administration has withheld by challenging state jurisdiction. Michael Pretti concluded the briefing by noting that the family first learned of their son’s death through media reports, adding that the lack of transparency from the government has been deeply painful.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)