Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. veteran, was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, during an immigration enforcement operation. However, this was not his first encounter with federal authorities. Just a week earlier, around January 17, 2026, Pretti intervened in what he perceived as an aggressive pursuit by ICE agents chasing a family on foot in the city. According to reports, Pretti stopped his car, began shouting at the agents, and blew a whistle to draw attention to the scene. In response, five agents allegedly tackled him to the ground, with one leaning heavily on his back, resulting in a broken rib. Pretti was released at the scene without charges but later sought medical treatment, where records confirmed medication for the rib injury. Sources indicate this prior incident made him known to federal authorities for obstructing operations.
HOLY SMOKES. Just a WEEK before Alex Pretti was shot by Border agents while armed, he had a VIOLENT altercation with federal agents in Minneapolis, got tackled and injured his rib
Pretti was an ACTIVE “ICE hunter” and a known menace.
Then he shows up armed, and lost his… pic.twitter.com/nBkQfVOYlq
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 27, 2026
MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) really aired this story with an A.I. doctored image of Alex Pretti. Why? pic.twitter.com/Sirf3ntc7M
— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL)
(@ANTHONYBLOGAN) January 27, 2026
In the aftermath of the shooting, controversy erupted over media portrayals of Pretti, particularly allegations that MSNBC used AI to alter his photograph. Social media users and conservative outlets claimed the network broadcast an enhanced image that made Pretti appear “prettier” and less Middle Eastern in features, including modifications resembling a “nose job” to appeal more to Western audiences. Critics argued this was an attempt to humanize Pretti and shape public sympathy amid the politically charged incident, drawing comparisons to past cases like George Floyd where media selected or edited images for narrative impact. MSNBC has not publicly responded to these accusations, but the claims fueled broader debates on AI’s role in journalism and potential bias in coverage of law enforcement confrontations.
This episode highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and public intervention, compounded by rapid spread of potentially manipulated visuals in the digital age.
SOURCES:
Alex Pretti’s rib broken in previous encounter with federal agents: report
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