DENVER — ACLU of Colorado vehemently condemns the brutal beating and killing of Alex Pretti, 37, by federal agents on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The ACLU of Colorado continues to monitor federal deployments to Minneapolis and joins ACLU National and the ACLU of Minnesota in demanding the immediate and total withdrawal of all federal agents from Minnesota and communities across the country.
Video footage, eyewitness accounts, and independent reporting from The New York Times and other media outlets confirm that Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans’ Affairs hospital, was helping a woman when seven federal agents pepper sprayed Pretti, tackled and restrained him, beat him with a pepper spray canister, and then shot him at least ten times. Pretti’s parents currently live in Colorado.
“Once again, federal agents have shot and killed an innocent bystander that was engaging in constitutionally protected action. We are profoundly saddened and disturbed by ICE’s second killing in Minneapolis,” said Peter Simonson, ACLU of Colorado interim executive director. “The killing of Renee Good, the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, and now the killing of Alex Pretti, are clear indicators that ICE’s occupation and abuse of our communities must end. There must be a collective demand from activists, state, and local officials for an impartial investigation into these killings in Minnesota. Together, our voices are stronger, and we must call for justice until ICE is held accountable for these violent and lawless acts.”
ACLU of Colorado also condemns the political distortions and falsehoods of both the shooting and of Pretti’s character promulgated by Trump administration officials, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino. Pretti’s parents released a statement, calling for the truth to be shared about their son.
“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,” said Pretti’s Parents in the statement reported by CBS News. “Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.”
The killing of Pretti is the third shooting and the second killing by federal agents in Minneapolis since the beginning of January. Renee Nicole Good, also 37, was shot and killed by federal agents on January 7, 2026. Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis was shot and injured by federal agents on January 14, 2025.
ACLU of Colorado urges community members to send a message to the U.S. House and Senate demanding an end to the Trump administration’s dangerous escalation and asking Congress to rein in ICE. ACLU of Colorado also encourages community members to attend a virtual training on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET, provided by ACLU National, on how to document ICE’s abuses.
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