Alex Pretti’s family says they learned he had been fatally shot by immigration officers only after spotting his clothes in live television coverage of the incident.
His parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, along with his sister, Micayla Pretti, described the devastating moment on Tuesday in their first on-camera interview since his death seven months ago.
Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot and killed on January 24 by federal agents during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His family says the shooting happened after he appeared to step in to help a woman who had been pushed to the ground.
Speaking with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, the family recounted the painful realization that the man they were watching on the screen was Alex. They also renewed their call for “accountability” over his death.
“That’s how we found out. Watching it on TV. Watching our son be shot ten times on TV. In the back. Trying to help someone,” Michael said.
Micayla said she identified her brother by the jacket he was wearing in the footage. Susan then added another detail that confirmed it for them: “And his sunglasses.”
“We watched it. We watched it on TV, and it’s like: ‘That’s our son. That’s Alex, and they killed him,’” Michael said.
The family says authorities have never called them in the months since Pretti was killed. In July, the U.S. Attorney’s Office met with their attorney.
The family of Alex Pretti, 37, has spoken out for the first time since he was shot dead by federal agents in Minneapolis on January 24 during an immigration enforcement operation
Pretti’s parents, Susan and Michael Pretti, and his sister, Micayla Pretti, revealed how they found out he died and said they are seeking ‘accountability’ during an ABC News interview
Video shows Pretti being shot ten times in the back as he lay on the floor after officers had disarmed him. Agents are pictured kneeling over him after he was shot
Micayla described how she first became alarmed after receiving a call from a reporter asking her about the shooting. She dialed her brother but ‘his phone went straight to voicemail.’
‘So I was freaking out, and then I called them,’ she added while gesturing toward her parents.
Susan said she called Hennepin County Medical Center and was stonewalled even though she ‘begged’ for answers.
‘I could tell by her [the receptionist’s] voice that she knew because by this time it was all over the news,’ Alex’s mom said.
Michael said that the family is speaking out for the first time because they want ‘justice’ and ‘accountability,’ and to ‘get the facts out of what happened to Alex that day.’
Susan said she was ‘not shocked’ that her son looked like he was trying to help someone in the video of the shooting.
‘My shock is that he was murdered,’ she said. ‘And no one had given us the complete truth or anyone has been held accountable, and it’s been seven months,’ she added as her voice began trembling.
‘There was more effort in vilifying him than pursuing justice, investigating this,’ Michael said.
Pretti was killed just weeks after another American citizen, Renee Good, was shot by a federal agent less than a mile away
Shortly after Alex was killed, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said he attacked officers
Former Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino claimed Alex wanted ‘to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement’
Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called Alex an ‘assassin’ and a ‘domestic terrorist’ in a social media post
After a video emerged of Alex confronting federal agents a week before he was killed, Trump called him an ‘agitator’ and ‘perhaps’ an ‘insurrectionist’
In February, Vice President JD Vance refused to apologize for endorsing Miller’s statement on social media during an exclusive interview with Our News Outlet
Pretti’s killing came just weeks after Renee Nicole Good, another Minneapolis resident, was shot dead by federal agents during a clash during an immigration operation.
After Pretti’s death, a slew of top Trump administration officials released statements that appeared to attempt to defend the killing.
Then-Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, who has since been removed from the position, alleged Pretti attacked officers and was ‘brandishing a gun’ after it emerged he was armed during the protest.
Former Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, who was likewise removed from his role and later announced his retirement from federal service in March, claimed Alex wanted ‘to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.’
Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called Alex an ‘assassin’ and a ‘domestic terrorist’ in a social media post that was then reposted by Vice President JD Vance.
In February, Vance refused to apologize for endorsing Miller’s statement during an exclusive interview with Our News Outlet.
‘If something is determined that the guy who shot Alex Pretti did something bad, then a lot of consequences are going to flow from that. We’ll let that happen,’ he said. ‘I don’t think it’s smart to prejudge the investigation.’
Trump administration officials appeared to partially walk back their comments and said they would wait for findings of investigations by the Justice Department and the FBI.
Alex’s family called the comments from Trump administration officials ‘disgusting.’ He is pictured with his sister, Micayla (right)
Susan said she still expects an apology from administration officials for what they said about her son. She is pictured with Alex’s father, Michael
Miller admitted his statement was made in haste, and when Trump was asked in late January if he agreed that Pretti was an ‘assassin,’ he told reporters: ‘No.’
But when a video emerged of Alex confronting federal agents a week before he was killed and kicking out the taillight of one of their vehicles, Trump called him an ‘agitator’ and ‘perhaps’ an ‘insurrectionist.’
Alex’s father called the comments from the administration ‘disgusting,’ and said Trump’s statements were ‘so unpresidential.’
‘I mean, it’s ridiculous that the leader of the free world speaks that way about an American citizen,’ he said.
The family claimed the status of the investigation into Alex’s shooting remains unclear.
‘They don’t care. They do what they want,’ Michael said.
‘How are you supposed to trust the government after that?’ Micayla added.
Susan said she still expects an apology for the things administration officials said.
The Pretti family’s pro bono attorney, Steve Schleicher, emphasized that the status of investigations by the Justice Department and the FBI into Alex’s death remains unclear
While the investigation unfolds, Alex’s family continues to mourn and seek answers. A large memorial for Alex is pictured in Minneapolis a couple of weeks after he was killed
The Pretti family’s pro bono attorney, Steve Schleicher, who helped convict Derek Chauvin of George Floyd’s murder, said: ‘I know that they say they are doing an investigation. We don’t know where it stands. We don’t know what information they’ve gathered.’
Schleicher added that the family has ‘the right to know who shot Alex Pretti. They have the right to have the process not drag on too long. They have the right to be informed, and that’s just not being done here.’
A Department of Justice spokesperson told Our News Outlet: ‘As is standard protocol, family member communications, if any, come at a later stage of a case, such as at indictment, initial appearance, plea, trial, or sentencing. Communications with family do not typically occur during an investigation.’
A DHS spokesman told Our News Outlet: ‘The Department of Homeland Security works to give the American people accurate information as quickly as possible. These statements were made based on information received on the ground from CBP.
‘This is a law enforcement matter and an active investigation and we refer you to FBI for further questions. We urge individuals not to impede any law enforcement action and ICE operations.’
White House Spokeswoman Lauren Bis told Our News Outlet: ‘President Trump’s response has remained consistent throughout this entire situation: he views Mr. Pretti’s death as a tragedy and has advocated for a fact-based investigation.
‘This is an active investigation and we refer you to the FBI for further questions. We remind the public not to obstruct law enforcement operations.
‘President Trump and his entire administration also view the deaths of countless innocent Americans at the hands of criminal illegal aliens as a tragedy that should warrant equal coverage from the mainstream media who choose to ignore these incidents.’
The FBI declined to comment when Our News Outlet reached out.
As the investigation unfolds, Pretti’s family remains at a loss.
‘What did he do to deserve to be murdered?’ Susan asked. ‘To [be] left cold, on the ground, dead. My child. What did he do?’
