Minneapolis shooting: What we know about Alex Pretti, the man killed by Border Patrol agent

Minneapolis shooting: Who is Alex Pretti?

Alex Pretti, 37, of Minneapolis, was fatally shot by Border Patrol in Minneapolis on Saturday. He was an ICU nurse for the VA. 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (FOX 9) - Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot Saturday morning by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis. 

Minneapolis man killed by Border Patrol agent

Mpls city leaders ask public for calm after BP shooting

The Minneapolis Police Chief and Minneapolis Mayor are asking for the public to be calm after a Border Patrol agent fatally shot a man.

What we know:

The man who was fatally shot by Border Patrol has been identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said Pretti was a Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen with only traffic violations on his criminal record. He also had a valid permit to carry. 

Pretti was an ICU nurse and lived in Minneapolis. FOX 9 confirmed Pretti worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Pretti graduated from the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts in 2011. He was born in Illinois.

The Associated Press is reporting he was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed getting in adventures with Joule, his Catahoula Leopard dog, who recently died. 

Pretti had participated in protests following the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer. Michael Pretti, his father who lives in Colorado, told The AP: 

"He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset. He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests."

What they're saying:

The American Federation of Government Employees Union Local 704 shared the following statement:

"The members of AFGE Local 704 are heartbroken and outraged to learn of the murder of our union sibling, Alex Pretti, by federal agents today in Minneapolis. 

"Pretti, a member of AFGE Local 3669, devoted his life to caring for our veterans. He was a public servant who served the American people and swore to uphold the Constitution. He was a valued member of our union. 

"No family should have to endure the pain of having their loved one’s life snatched away in this manner.   

Minneapolis shooting: Memorial starting near Alex Pretti's fatal shooting

A memorial is starting and people are gathering near the site where Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent Saturday morning in the area of 26th and Nicollet. FOX 9's Mike Manzoni is there with the latest.

"We demand an immediate, thorough, and independent investigation into this incident. Those responsible for the use of deadly force must be fully investigated and held accountable for any criminal actions. 

"This tragedy is further proof that the actions of CBP and ICE in our community are out of control, endangering the public, and taking lives with zero accountability. 

"AFGE Local 704 stands in solidarity with Alex’s loved ones, AFGE Local 3669 and the entire Minneapolis community in their grief. We will not sit idly by as our members are subjected to violence. We demand justice for Alex Pretti. And justice will start with our Senators voting to deprive the Department of Homeland Security of the resources to terrorize our citizens. We urge Senator Durbin and Senator Duckworth to vote against appropriations for DHS this week." 

DHS, Border Patrol response:

The Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol Commander-At-Large Greg Bovino claims the shooting was justified because Pretti was carrying a gun. Bovino said he had two loaded magazines and no identification. Bovino did not state if Pretti pulled a gun or where the gun was when he was shot. 

Dig deeper:

Video from the scene shows Pretti on the ground after being tackled by Border Patrol agents. 

Another video shows an agent removing the gun from Pretti's waistband before another agent opened fire several times, killing him. 

Minneapolis ICE shootings

Border Patrol addresses fatal Minneapolis shooting

Border Patrol leadership addresses fatal Minneapolis shooting, saying the man killed was armed. 

The backstory:

This is the third shooting by federal agents this year. 

Renee Good was fatally shot in Minneapolis by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

Another man was shot in the leg by an ICE agent in north Minneapolis on Jan. 14, but survived.