A GoFundMe campaign titled “Alex Pretti is an American Hero” had raised more than $160,000 from thousands of donations as of Saturday evening, blowing past its original $20,000 goal. The fundraiser was organized by Keith Edwards after Alex Jeffrey Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
In the campaign description, Edwards alleges Pretti—a Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen—was “executed on the streets of Minneapolis by ICE agents.” The fundraiser says it is intended to help Pretti’s loved ones with “immediate and ongoing needs.”
What Officials Say
In statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), officials said Pretti allegedly approached Border Patrol officers with a handgun during what they described as a “targeted operation.” Federal authorities claim he then “violently resisted” when officers attempted to disarm him, prompting an agent to open fire. Medical responders provided emergency care at the scene, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterward, according to the statements.
What Local Leaders Have Said
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters the victim was believed to be an American citizen with no criminal history beyond traffic citations and that he legally owned a firearm. State records show Pretti received a nursing license in 2021, which remains active through 2026.
What’s Known About Pretti
Pretti worked as an intensive care unit nurse, and records indicate he attended the University of Minnesota and later worked as a “junior scientist” at the University of Minnesota Medical School beginning in 2012. O’Hara also described him as a lawful gun owner with a permit.
Questions Raised by Video
While DHS says Pretti approached officers with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and resisted efforts to disarm him, bystander video obtained by the Associated Press reportedly shows at least seven officers surrounding Pretti before shots were fired—fueling questions about how the encounter escalated.
Where the Money Would Go
Edwards said the funds will not be distributed until next-of-kin can be verified and a family representative is identified to manage the donations. He also wrote that if the money cannot be transferred to Pretti’s family for any reason, the full amount will be donated to the Immigrant Defense Project, which provides litigation, advocacy, and community-defense resources.
What People Are Saying
Keith Edwards, GoFundMe Organizer:
“On January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a Minneapolis resident and American citizen was executed on the streets of Minneapolis by ICE agents. This fundraiser is intended to support the loved ones he leaves behind with immediate and ongoing needs…funds will not be distributed until we can verify next-of-kin and identify the appropriate family representative…”
He added:
“If, for any reason, the funds cannot be transferred to Alex’s family, we will direct the total amount to the Immigrant Defense Project…”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, on X:
“I told the White House the state must lead the investigation. Let state investigators secure justice…The State has the personnel to keep people safe – federal agents must not obstruct our ability to do so.”
Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, Pretti’s colleague, on Bluesky:
“Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA…He was a good kind person who lived to help and these [expletive] executed him. White. Hot. Rage.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, at a Saturday press conference (in part):
“How many times must local and national leaders must plead with you, Donald Trump, to end this operation…We have seen these kinds of operations in other places… but not here in America… I’m done being told that our community members are responsible for the vitriol in our streets…”
What Happens Next
The fundraiser is continuing to draw donations as the shooting remains under investigation and competing accounts of what happened continue to circulate.
