Alex Pretti was an American intensive care unit (ICU) nurse and former research scientist whose death and life became the topic of national and global attention after he was fatally shot in the process of a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 24, 2026.
Pretti, when he died at age 37, was an ICU nurse working at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, where he treated military veterans. There has been no public appearance, and known among colleagues, friends, and family as a quiet, caring, and principled man, Pretti lived life in the final years of his life with the influence of science, medicine, and civic activities.
Alex Pretti Biography | |
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Alex Jeffery Pretti |
| Birth Date: | 1988 |
| Age (as of 2025): | 37 Years |
| Birthplace: | Illinois |
| Residence: | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA |
| Parents: | Michael and Susan Pretti |
| Wife: | – |
Early Life
Alex Pretti was born in 1988 in Illinois, and his parents are Michael and Susan Pretti. He subsequently relocated with his family to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he grew up and lived the greatest part of his upbringing. Pretti grew up in Green Bay and was busy with academics and extracurricular activities.
He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, sang with the Green Bay Boy Choir, and was a multi-sport athlete in high school. Pretti went to Preble High School in Green Bay and graduated with the Class of 2006. Yellow-car, the people who were acquainted with him at this time, have said that he was introspective, thoughtful, and extremely interested in the natural world.
Since his early days of life, he has established a firm bond with the outdoors, a characteristic that would be at the center of his personality into adulthood. Later on, friends and family remembered that his early interest in community responsibility, environmental issues, and science made him choose certain studies and a career.
Alex Pretti Career
Alex Pretti continued his education at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, society, and the environment. His interest in the interface of science, government policy, and social responsibility was expressed in this interdisciplinary program.
After graduating, he entered the field of scientific research, where he worked as a research scientist and laboratory technician at the University of Minnesota. He also worked in a biotechnology startup company called GeneSegues, where he worked on laboratory-based research initiatives.
Pretti, despite his achievements in the field of research, ultimately decided to transition to a different profession due to the urge to have a more direct impact on human beings. He went back to school and majored in nursing, receiving a registered nurse license in 2021. This change was a turning point in his career.
His scientific background, according to colleagues, enhanced his clinical competence, especially in high-pressure settings. Alex Pretti had been employed as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System when he died. During this time, he offered critical care to the veterans, with most in need of complicated and life-sustaining therapy.
He belonged to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) as well, indicating his position as a federal healthcare employee. His family and colleagues always referred to him as a level-headed person in a tense situation, a perfectionist in regard to his duties, and profoundly empathetic with his patients.
Personal Life
Alex Pretti was single at the time of his death. Confirmed reporting confirms that he is not the first to be married to him, and his previous wife divorced before the year 2026. No information is available publicly that suggests that Pretti was romantically involved with someone prior to his death.
According to family members and close acquaintances, he maintained his personal life as a secret, particularly during the years before 2026. There is no current partner listed in public records and reputable news outlets, and there are no proven quotes that would indicate that he was in a romantic relationship in his final months.
Social Media
Alex Pretti failed to have an influential or visible social media presence. No official public Instagram or Twitter accounts of his have been officially published outside of his mentions in news stories. Nevertheless, his social media presence was extensively reported on following his death, following the release of personal and eyewitness videos of the event.
Alex Pretti had a LinkedIn profile, where he claimed his professional experience as a research scientist at the University of Minnesota Medical School before beginning his nursing career. His former spouse and relatives reported that he used social media mostly in relation to civic engagement and protesting activity. He also livestreamed protests he was at, such as those in the 2020 George Floyd movement in Minneapolis.
Alex Pretti Net Worth
At the time of his death, Alex Pretti had not publicly announced his exact net worth. According to confirmed data about his career, his economic status corresponded to the expectations of the mid-career registered nurse working in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. His salary came through his nursing pay and former employment in scientific research. It is not indicated that Pretti held any substantial personal wealth, business ownership, or investment portfolios.