Alex Pretti Hero Track

Alex Jeffrey Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital — a U.S. citizen, no criminal record, legal permit to carry a firearm.

He was at an immigration raid, filming agents and directing traffic, when agents pepper-sprayed a woman who had been pushed to the ground. Pretti stepped between the agent and the woman, putting his arm around her. He was swarmed, pepper-sprayed, and wrestled to the ground. At least seven officers were on top of him when one, standing above the others, grabbed his gun and shot him. Ten gunshots were fired.



He had recently been filmed at the VA giving a final salute at a dying veteran's bedside. His last recorded words, spoken that same day: "Freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it, and even sacrifice for it."