It has been greater than 9 months since Veterans Affairs nurse Alex Pretti was shot by federal immigration brokers in Minnesota, and his mother and father mentioned that they’ve obtained no updates, no data and no help from the federal authorities.
On Tuesday, Susan and Michael Pretti made a public emotional plea to the Justice Division, which has not issued any expenses in reference to the Jan. 24 taking pictures, to launch all of the proof it has into its investigation and supply extra accountability.
“Michael and I usually are not asking for any particular therapy. We don’t wish to be on TV we aren’t political activists, nor will we wish to grow to be political activists. All we wish is justice for Alex,” Susan Pretti advised reporters.
Michael and Susan Pretti, mother and father of Alex Pretti who was shot and killed on Jan. 24, 2026, attend a information convention in Minneapolis, Oct. 27, 2026.
KSTP
The couple held again tears as they spoke to the press, surrounded by footage of the incident that sparked protests and backlash in opposition to the Trump administration, Immigration Customs and Enforcement and different federal companies.
“The federal authorities went on TV and lied about Alex, they tried to slander his reminiscence to cowl up their crime,” Susan Pretti mentioned.
Then Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem alleged their son “dedicated an act of home terrorism,” throughout a information convention hours after the taking pictures.
A nonetheless from a video that exhibits Alex Pretti in a confrontation with federal brokers in Minneapolis on Jan. 13, 2026.
The Information Motion
A Justice Division spokesperson responded to the Prettis’ claims in an announcement to ABC Information on Tuesday.
“The timing is in step with how most of these investigations proceed. As is customary follow, communications with relations, if any, come at a later stage of a case, comparable to indictment, preliminary look, plea, trial, or sentencing,” the official mentioned. “These communications don’t sometimes happen throughout an investigation.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace in Minnesota declined remark to ABC affiliate KSTB in St. Paul.
Eyewitness movies reviewed by ABC Information present that the 37-year-old nurse seemed to be recording on Jan. 24 when a federal officer shoved a lady into him.
Alex Pretti appeared to attempt to assist her, after which each of his palms are seen — one holding a telephone and the opposite held up, seemingly to guard himself from pepper spray — when he is wrestled to the bottom.
His firearm, which he had a authorized allow to hold, was eliminated by an officer whereas he was on the bottom and earlier than roughly 10 photographs had been fired, the movies present.
Noem later mentioned that she didn’t have the entire details about the incident earlier than she alleged Pretti was a terrorist.
Nonetheless, she repeatedly refused to retract her assertion or apologize when requested by the press and congressional leaders on a number of events.
“We’re working in these conditions the place there is a tragic lack of life and that there’s something that our brokers are concerned in, that we proceed to ship data,” she mentioned throughout a Senate hearing in March when requested concerning the taking pictures.
Noem was faraway from her place days after that listening to. Since her ouster as DHS secretary, Noem was named by Trump to be the particular envoy to the “Protect of Americas,” a coalition between the U.S. and governments in Latin America.
Michael Pretti mentioned nobody from the federal authorities reached out to his household regardless of repeated requests. The household says Lawyer Basic Todd Blanche and Dan Rosen, the U.S. legal professional for the District of Minnesota, haven’t supplied any extra particulars concerning the investigation.
The Justice Division mentioned the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
“What we’ve been handled to is cruelty,” Michael Pretti mentioned.
Michael and Susan Pretti, mother and father of Alex Pretti who was shot and killed on Jan. 24, 2026, attend a information convention in Minneapolis, Oct. 27, 2026.
Ellen Schmidt/AP Photograph
“At each flip they’ve ignored us, misled us and shielded Alex’s killers,” he added.
Undated photograph of Alex Pretti supplied by the Division of Veterans Affairs.
Division of Veterans Affairs
Steve Schleicher, an legal professional representing the couple, advised reporters the Hennepin County Lawyer’s Workplace was reviewing the case and wanted entry to all obtainable proof to find out what occurred and whether or not felony expenses had been warranted.
In an announcement supplied to ABC Information, Hennepin County Lawyer Mary Moriarty mentioned: “The federal authorities continues to hinder our investigation into Alex Pretti’s killing. That is why we proceed to pursue our lawsuit in federal courtroom to entry the proof that’s being wrongly withheld.”
The assertion added: “We’ve got repeatedly requested for the cooperation to renew. These requests have fallen on deaf ears. Alex Pretti died by the hands of federal brokers and their bosses proceed to cover proof. It is disgusting habits that displays how little they look after the American folks, who deserve transparency a few deadly taking pictures by a federal agent.”
Michael Pretti instantly addressed Blanche and Rosen throughout the information convention asking them to cooperate with native investigators.
“Look in your coronary heart and do what is correct. Share the proof now so prosecutors can observe the information and maintain these males accountable,” Michael Pretti mentioned.
The daddy added the household would contemplate any obtainable authorized choices as they proceed in search of justice for his or her son.
“We’re heartbroken to be right here right now. We want we did not should be right here. We want Alex was alive,” Michael Pretti mentioned.
-ABC Information’ Luke Barr contributed to this report.
