Alex Pretti, 37, a paramedic working in the intensive care unit at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, where he cared for critically ill patients, including war veterans, was shot and killed by federal immigration agents on Saturday, January 24, 2026.[2][3][7] According to authorities, the agents acted in self-defense because Pretti was armed and resisted violently, confiscating his gun at the scene.[4][7] However, a CNN analysis of the video shows that the agent took the gun away just before the shooting and that Pretti was holding his phone as he tried to help other protesters.[2][4] Pretti was an American citizen with a legal permit to carry a gun and no criminal record except for parking tickets.[2][4] His parents said he was trying to protect a woman near agents and were concerned about immigration enforcement.[3][4][7] The incident sparked protests and an investigation by the US Department of Justice for suspected civil rights violations.[6] This is the second such case this month, preceded by the death of Renée Good on January 7.[6]