The family of slain ICU nurse Alex Pretti only found out he had been killed when a journalist from the Associated Press called them, it has emerged.
The outlet reported that Pretti’s family were initially not aware that he had been shot dead by border patrol agents on Saturday in a tragic incident that has since sparked protests across the nation.
After hearing that Pretti, 37, was killed from the AP reporter, the family then saw witness videos showing the moment he was shot on the streets of Minneapolis on Saturday, and saw it ‘appeared to be their son’, the outlet said.
Pretti’s father Michael said his family attempted to get in contact with officials for information about his death, and said authorities failed to reach out to them.
‘I can’t get any information from anybody,’ Michael Pretti said on Saturday.
‘The police, they said call Border Patrol, Border Patrol’s closed, the hospitals won’t answer any questions.’
Eventually, the family said they were able to contact the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, who they said confirmed had a body matching the name and description of their son.
The family said hours after Pretti was killed on Saturday evening, no one from the Trump administration had contacted them.
Pretti’s loved ones’ anguish was compounded by allegations Trump officials made about the ICU nurse in the aftermath of his shooting, including branding him a ‘domestic terrorist’ who ‘brandished’ a gun with the intent to ‘massacre’ law enforcement.
The family of slain ICU nurse Alex Pretti only found out he had been killed in Minneapolis by border patrol agents on Saturday when a journalist from the Associated Press called them, it has emerged
Pretti’s parents Michael and Susan (pictured) condemned Trump officials after their son’s death, saying they were ‘disgusting’ for spreading ‘sickening lies’ about him
But video of Pretti’s shooting filmed from multiple angles has shown there was no ‘brandishing’ of his legally-owned weapon, with Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem branded a liar for insisting there was on Saturday evening.
Pretti’s family released a scathing statement condemning the response from White House officials, saying they have been left heartbroken and angry by his death.
‘The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,’ the family said.
The family denied claims that Pretti pointed a gun at border patrol officers and said videos of the incident showed he was protecting a woman who had been pepper sprayed.
‘Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs,’ the family wrote.
‘He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.
‘Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.’
Pretti, 37, could be seen the street filming with his phone while a small group confronts a federal agent in the moments before he was shot dead on Saturday
Pretti’s parents were not aware their son was killed by federal agents until a journalist called them, at which point the medical examiner in Hanepin County tragically confirmed he was the victim in the shooting
The Pretti family demanded the public see the video evidence they say makes it clear that their son was holding a cellphone and not a gun when he was attacked and killed
Although the family accused ICE of being responsible for the shooting, it was actually Department for Homeland Security (DHS) agents who were involved.
Pretti grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he played football, baseball and ran track for Preble High School, according to the Associated Press.
He was a Boy Scout and sang in the Green Bay Boy Choir, and after graduation, he went to the University of Minnesota, graduating in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, society and the environment, according to the family.
Before becoming a registered nurse, Pretti also worked as a research scientist, his family said.
Pretti’s ex-wife, who spoke to the Associated Press but later said she didn’t want her name used, said he had a history of attending protests including Black Lives Matter demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd.
She said she had not spoken to him since they divorced more than two years ago and she moved to another state, but was not surprised he would have been involved in protesting Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Pretti’s ex-wife said he was a Democrat, and described him a someone who might shout at law enforcement officers at a protest, but she had never known him to be physically confrontational.
She said Pretti got a permit to carry a concealed firearm about three years ago and that he owned at least one semiautomatic handgun when they separated, AP reported.
Pretti worked as a registered nurse, and before his medical career he also worked as a research scientist, his family said
Pretti’s ex-wife said he was a Democrat, and described him a someone who might shout at law enforcement officers at a protest, but she had never known him to be physically confrontational
Pretti, who worked as an intensive care nurse for Veterans Affairs, was hailed as a good and caring man by his grieving family.
Their statement said: ‘Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.
‘Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact.
‘I do not through around the hero term lightly.
‘However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.’
