MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — Seven months after Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, his parents and sister have publicly described the devastating way they learned that he had died.

In their first television interview since the January 24 shooting, Michael and Susan Pretti and their daughter Micayla told ABC’s Good Morning America that they are still waiting for answers and accountability from the federal government.

Their appearance came as the family’s frustration over the investigation continues to grow.

A Stranger’s Phone Call Came First
For the Pretti family, the nightmare began with an unexpected phone call.

Micayla recalled that her husband received a call from an unfamiliar number asking whether the family knew Alex J. Pretti and whether they had heard from him because he might have been involved in an incident with federal immigration officers.

She initially thought the call could be a scam.

Then she tried calling Alex.

His phone went directly to voicemail.

The family soon realized something was seriously wrong.

They Saw Alex on Television
Michael and Susan said they were watching news coverage of the Minneapolis operation when they recognized their son.

Susan said she recognized his jacket and sunglasses in the footage.

The family then watched video of Alex being shot.

Michael said they learned of their son’s death not through a direct notification from the government, but by watching the incident unfold on television.

The experience remains one of the most painful aspects of the case for the family.

📱 Video Has Shaped the Family’s Understanding
The Prettis say publicly available video gives them a very different impression of what happened from the descriptions initially offered by federal officials.

According to footage reviewed by ABC News, Alex appeared to be recording federal immigration activity with his cellphone.

At one point, an officer appeared to shove a woman into him.

Video then showed Alex apparently trying to help her before officers moved toward him.

He was eventually taken to the ground.

His family says the footage does not support the portrayal of him as someone who deliberately attacked federal officers.

🔫 He Was Carrying a Firearm
Alex was legally carrying a firearm at the time.

According to ABC’s review of the footage, an officer removed the gun while Alex was already on the ground and before approximately 10 shots were fired.

His family argues that this point is critical to understanding the sequence of events.

They say Alex’s weapon was already being taken from him when the shooting occurred.

The federal government has disputed the family’s characterization of the incident, and the full circumstances remain under investigation.

He Was an ICU Nurse
Before his death, Pretti worked as an ICU nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

His family described him as compassionate and deeply invested in his community.

They said he cared about Minneapolis and believed people should be treated fairly regardless of their background.

Michael explained that Alex had gone to observe federal immigration enforcement activity, rather than participate in a protest.

His family believes that is why he was carrying a cellphone and documenting what was happening.

The Family Rejects “Terrorist” Labels
The aftermath of the shooting became politically charged almost immediately.

Members of the Trump administration publicly characterized Alex in extremely harsh terms.

His family strongly rejected those descriptions.

They said Alex was portrayed as a dangerous person before investigators had established the facts.

Susan questioned why her son was being described as an assassin or domestic terrorist when, in the family’s view, available video showed him attempting to help another person.

The family said those statements have added another layer of pain to an already devastating loss.

They Want the Officers Identified
One of the family’s clearest demands is the public identification of the officers involved in the shooting.

Alex’s sister Micayla said she wants the officers’ names released.

His mother said that two people fired at her son and argued that they should be held accountable if the investigation determines they acted unlawfully.

The officers’ identities have not been officially released publicly, although some media organizations have reported names that have not been formally confirmed by authorities.

A Federal Investigation Is Still Ongoing
The Department of Justice opened a civil-rights investigation into Pretti’s death.

Seven months later, however, the family says they have received little meaningful information about its progress.

Their attorney, Steven Schleicher, told ABC News that the family has a right to know what happened and to receive information about the investigation.

He said the lack of communication has added to their frustration.

The Justice Department has maintained that information about active investigations is often not released while the process is underway.

Minnesota Officials Have Also Sought Evidence
The federal investigation is not the only inquiry examining the incident.

Minnesota authorities have also sought access to federal evidence involving the shooting.

State investigators eventually obtained body-camera footage and other material connected to Pretti’s death, along with evidence related to the earlier fatal shooting of another Minnesota resident, Renee Good, during the same federal immigration crackdown.

But no criminal charge has been publicly announced against the officers involved in Pretti’s death.

Thousands of Messages Have Reached the Family
Amid the anger and uncertainty, the family has received an enormous amount of support.

Michael said relatives have received more than 2,000 cards and letters from people around the country and beyond.

The family has kept them.

They said reading those messages has helped them through months of grief.

For a family still waiting for an official account of what happened, the support has offered some comfort.

Seven Months Later, They Still Want the “Complete Truth”
The Prettis say their goal is not simply to revisit the tragedy publicly.

They want a complete account of what happened on January 24.

They want the officers identified.

They want the federal investigation to reach a conclusion.

And if investigators determine that laws were broken, they want the people responsible to face consequences.

Susan said the family’s shock is no longer simply about losing Alex.

It is about still not knowing whether anyone will be held responsible for his death.

The Case Remains Unresolved
Alex Pretti’s death has become part of a much larger national debate about federal immigration enforcement, the use of force by federal agents and accountability for officers involved in deadly shootings.

But for the Pretti family, the political arguments are secondary.

They are mourning a son and brother.

They remember a nurse who cared for critically ill patients and a man who believed in helping people around him.

And they are still waiting for an explanation they consider complete.

Seven months after Alex Pretti was killed, his family says they have seen the video, but they are still waiting for the answers — and accountability — that they believe his death demands.

Sources: PEOPLE — Alex Pretti’s family speaks out seven months later