Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse from Minneapolis who died during a confrontation with border agents last weekend, had been injured in an earlier encounter with federal officers just one week before his death, according to a report citing law enforcement sources.
[read more]
Pretti reportedly suffered a broken rib following an incident tied to a protest against President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts. A source told CNN that the injury occurred after Pretti encountered Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during an enforcement operation.
According to the source, Pretti stopped his vehicle after seeing ICE agents pursuing a family on foot. He allegedly began shouting and blowing a whistle, drawing the attention of the officers involved in the operation.
The encounter escalated when Pretti was taken to the ground by approximately five federal agents. During the struggle, one officer reportedly leaned on his back, causing the rib fracture. Pretti was released at the scene but was said to have feared he might die during the incident.
Documents obtained by CNN show that federal agents deployed to Minneapolis earlier this month were instructed to collect images, license plate information, identifications, and other details related to agitators and protesters. While it remains unclear when Pretti was first documented, sources say he was known to federal authorities following the earlier encounter.
Pretti later died during a separate confrontation with a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday. The revelation of his prior injury has added new context to the investigation, with officials now examining whether his repeated involvement in enforcement-related incidents reflected a broader pattern of physical confrontations with federal agents.[/read]