Authorities have identified the man killed during a weekend encounter with U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis as 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti. The shooting took place Saturday morning in south Minneapolis during a federal immigration enforcement operation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security.

Federal officials said agents were carrying out a targeted action when they came into contact with Pretti, who they allege was armed with a handgun and carrying two magazines. According to authorities, the encounter quickly escalated after agents attempted to disarm him.

Pretti was employed as an intensive care unit nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, a detail confirmed by both officials and family members. News of his death spread rapidly, drawing public attention and leading to protests near the location of the shooting later that same day.

Law enforcement officials said a physical struggle broke out during the attempt to restrain Pretti. At least one agent fired a weapon during the confrontation, striking him. Emergency medical care was provided at the scene, and Pretti was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

“The Department of Justice will continue to hold those breaking federal law accountable, including those who harass and violently attack law enforcement in the name of protest.”

Federal officials emphasized that the agents involved acted out of concern for their safety, stating that Pretti resisted efforts to restrain him while armed. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, led by federal authorities.

The shooting occurred amid heightened federal immigration enforcement activity in Minnesota, part of a broader effort targeting individuals identified as being in the country illegally. The incident has prompted renewed debate over the presence and role of federal agents in local communities.