A tragic incident occurred in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, when Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot and killed by ICE officers during a Border Patrol operation.
The incident has since sparked widespread outrage, with many demanding answers regarding the use of force and the circumstances leading to Pretti’s death.
Vice President JD Vance has since been slammed for a social media post he made about the incident.
A Confrontation Turns Deadly
The events unfolded near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, where Pretti was recording the actions of Border Patrol agents as they carried out an operation.
As the agents began using pepper spray on a group of individuals on the sidewalk, Pretti stepped in to offer assistance.
Video footage from the scene reveals that the situation escalated quickly when Pretti was tackled by several officers.
Moments later, a gunshot rang out, followed by multiple more shots that struck Pretti while he was on the ground.
The federal government has since claimed that Pretti was armed and had intended to attack the officers, but no evidence has been presented to support these allegations.
The shooting has raised serious questions about the agents' response and the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s tragic death.
JD Vance Slammed Over Social Media Post
In a post on X, the VP wrote: "When I was in Minneapolis, I heard a number of crazy stories. But near the top of the list:
"A couple of off duty ICE and CBP officers were going to dinner in Minneapolis. They were doxed and their location revealed, and the restaurant was then mobbed.
"The officers were locked in the restaurant, and local police refused to respond to their pleas for help (as they've been directed by local authorities). Eventually, their fellow federal agents came to their aid."
Vance continued: "This is just a taste of what's happening in Minneapolis because state and local officials refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement. They have created the chaos so they can have moments like yesterday, where someone tragically dies and politicians get to grandstand about the evils of enforcing the border."
The backlash has been fierce, with one person writing: "The craziest story I heard was when two of your ICE agents unloaded 10 bullets into a VA nurse for no reason. You sick f*ck."
Another said: "A man was executed in the streets by ICE agents and you couldn’t care less. JD, I know you live in a bubble and nobody around you cares either, but people will remember this."
While Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote: "You are defending the open killing of everyday Americans for exercising their Constitutional rights.
"First, the mother of a 6 year old child. Now, an ICU nurse to veterans. Both shot at nearly point blank range. All without reflection or remorse. People will not forget this."