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 are speaking publicly about the tragedy for the first time in a televised interview.

Michael and Susan Pretti, along with Alex’s sister Micayla, told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos that they are still searching for answers about the January 24 shooting and want the officers involved to be held accountable.

Their comments come as a federal investigation into the shooting remains unresolved, with the family saying they have received little information about what authorities have found.

💔 They Learned Their Son Was Dead From Television
One of the family’s most painful revelations was how they learned about Alex’s death.

His parents said they were watching news coverage of the shooting when Susan recognized her son’s clothing and sunglasses.

They realized that the man on television was Alex.

Instead of receiving a notification directly from authorities, they watched footage of their son being shot during live coverage of the Minneapolis operation.

Michael said the family had to watch their son’s final moments unfold on television.

For Susan, the memory remains difficult to comprehend.

She said her biggest shock was not that Alex had intervened to help someone — it was that he was killed and that, months later, the family still did not have what they consider a complete explanation.

📱 Video Has Become Central to the Family’s Account
Alex was on a Minneapolis street on January 24 during the federal immigration enforcement operation known as Operation Metro Surge.

Bystander video reviewed by ABC News appears to show him holding a cellphone and recording activity involving federal officers.

At one point, a federal officer appears to shove a woman into Alex.

Video then appears to show Alex trying to help her before agents move in and force him to the ground.

His parents say the footage contradicts the characterization of their son as an aggressor.

The family maintains that Alex was observing what was happening and attempting to help another person when the confrontation escalated.

🔫 Alex Was Legally Carrying a Firearm
Another important part of the case concerns a firearm Alex was carrying.

According to the publicly available video described by ABC News, Alex had a legally permitted firearm.

The footage appears to show an officer removing the gun while Alex was already on the ground.

Approximately 10 shots were then fired, according to the video evidence reported by ABC News.

The presence of the firearm has been central to arguments over the shooting.

Federal officials previously portrayed Alex as a threat to law enforcement.

His family strongly disputes that characterization.

⚠️ Family Rejects Government Claims About Alex
In the aftermath of the shooting, senior Trump administration officials publicly criticized Alex.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused him of committing an act of domestic terrorism.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller referred to him as an “assassin” and “domestic terrorist.”

President Donald Trump later described Pretti as an “agitator” and suggested he may have been an insurrectionist.

Alex’s family says those statements were deeply painful and unfair.

His father argued that there appeared to be greater urgency to vilify his son than investigate what happened.

Susan said she wants an apology.

She questioned why her family should not receive one after losing their son.

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

His family described him as compassionate and deeply concerned about his community.

Michael said Alex cared about Minneapolis and wanted people to be treated fairly regardless of their background or circumstances.

That commitment, his family believes, helps explain why he was documenting immigration enforcement activity that day.

His relatives say he was not looking for a confrontation.

They believe he was watching what was happening around him and trying to help when the situation escalated.

🕵️ Federal Civil Rights Investigation Remains Open
The Department of Justice opened a federal civil-rights investigation into Alex’s death shortly after the shooting.

But according to the family’s attorney, Steve Schleicher, the family still does not know where that investigation stands.

Schleicher told ABC News that the family has a right to know who shot Alex, to receive meaningful information and to be informed about the progress of the investigation.

The Justice Department said such communication with family members generally occurs at later stages of a criminal case rather than during an active investigation.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are also involved in the broader investigation.

📂 Minnesota Investigators Eventually Obtained Federal Evidence
The investigation has faced a separate dispute over access to evidence.

Minnesota officials previously sought federal footage and other records related to the shooting.

By July, state investigators had obtained body-camera footage and other evidence involving the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, another U.S. citizen killed during the Minneapolis immigration crackdown.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison described the evidence-sharing as a positive development in the effort to determine what happened.

That development has not yet produced a publicly announced criminal charge against the officers involved in Alex’s death.

👩‍👦 His Sister Wants the Officers Identified
During the ABC interview, Alex’s sister Micayla said she wants the names of the officers who shot her brother to be officially released.

She also wants accountability for their actions.

The family believes identifying the officers is an essential first step toward determining responsibility.

But seven months after the shooting, the names have not been officially released by federal authorities, even as some names have circulated in media reports.

🕯️ Thousands of Messages Have Helped the Family Cope
Amid their anger and grief, the Pretti family has also received an enormous amount of public support.

Michael said they have received more than 2,000 cards and letters from people expressing sympathy.

The family has kept them.

He said they have read every message.

For relatives still waiting for answers, those letters have provided some comfort during an extraordinarily difficult period.

A Family Still Waiting for the Full Story
The family’s first television interview has brought renewed attention to a shooting that already sparked nationwide protests and political controversy.

Their position is straightforward: they believe the available video tells a different story from the one presented by some federal officials immediately after the shooting.

They want the identities of the officers involved.

They want to know why Alex was shot.

And they want the investigation to lead to accountability if wrongdoing is established.

At the same time, the legal investigation remains incomplete, and the full circumstances of the shooting have not been resolved in court.

What Happens Next?
As of August 27, 2026, Alex Pretti’s family continues to seek answers seven months after his death.

The DOJ investigation remains active, while federal and state authorities have been examining video and other evidence.

No public criminal charge has been announced against the officers who shot Alex.

The family’s attorney continues pressing for greater transparency, while Alex’s parents and sister say they will continue speaking out.

For them, the issue is not simply how their son died.

It is whether the people responsible will ever be held accountable.

Alex Pretti was a son, brother, ICU nurse and member of the Minneapolis community. Seven months after his death, his family is still waiting for the answers they say they deserve.

Sources
ABC News: ABC News — Family of Alex Pretti speaks out in exclusive interview