By Hannah Saunders
The man Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers shot to death in the streets of Minneapolis on January 24 has been identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who worked as a registered ICU nurse at the Minnesota Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Video footage shows Pretti recording agents before they charged him with pepper spray, tackled him, beat him, and shot him repeatedly at extremely close range, even when Pretti laid motionless on the freezing cold ground.
The American Nurses Association (ANA), which represents over five million registered nurses, issued a statement condemning the murder of Pretti, and cited the need for transparency and accountability.
“ANA calls for a full, unencumbered investigation, and urges that findings be shared promptly and clearly so Alex’s loved ones and public have answers. One in four nurses already experience workplace violence. As incidents with federal law enforcement continue to rise across the country, we are deeply concerned for the safety of nurses, both on the job and in the communities they serve,” it said.
The Minnesota VA Health Care System has yet to make an announcement about the shooting of Pretti, but posted about chicken and wild rice soup that afternoon.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), among others, are demanding that “these violent and dangerous Federal agents immediately withdraw from Minnesota,” and other areas in the U.S.
“This tragedy is further proof that these federal agents are out of control and critically endangering our communities. ICE and CBP must end their operations in our city before anyone else is harmed, and an independent investigation must be conducted,” Deepinder Mayell, executive director of ACLU of Minnesota, said.
TtS previously reported on how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed Pretti approached CBP agents with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, and that he “violently resisted” when officers tried to disarm him.
“Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect also had two magazines and no ID— this looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” DHS stated.
YouTuber Keith Edwards launched a GoFundMe for the Pretti family, and said he is directly working with the company to make sure funds go to the family or a nonprofit.
Like our work? We need your support to continue bringing you antifascist news. Become a donor now.
Leave a comment