Nearly $600,000 Raised for Alex Pretti’s Family After Fatal Minneapolis Shooting

An online GoFundMe campaign raised nearly $600,000 within a day to support the family of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis nurse who was fatally shot by federal agents. The fundraiser — launched hours after the shooting — has become a focal point of public anger and renewed street protests over federal immigration enforcement in the city.

Fundraiser, Beneficiary and Donations

The campaign, titled "Alex Pretti Is An American Hero," was created by organizer Keith Edwards and quickly surpassed its initial $20,000 goal. Edwards said the online effort was intended "to support the loved ones [Pretti] leaves behind with immediate needs." By Sunday afternoon, roughly 15,500 donors had contributed nearly $600,000, and Edwards said GoFundMe had agreed to designate Pretti’s father, Michael Pretti, as the campaign beneficiary so the family could access the funds directly. GoFundMe did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

What Videos Show

Multiple videos circulating online captured the sequence of events that preceded the shooting. The footage shows Pretti directing traffic and recording federal agents who had been deployed to Minneapolis. In one clip he holds a phone in his right hand while his left hand appears empty. Other footage shows him intervening to help a legal observer who had been shoved to the ground. An officer then sprayed Pretti with a chemical agent and Pretti was tackled by federal officers.

As officers restrained him, one agent reached toward Pretti’s lower back and appeared to step back with what looked like a gun. Video captured an officer shouting, "Gun! Gun!" Another officer then drew a weapon and fired a close-range shot; body-camera and bystander footage show a subsequent volley of additional shots as agents retreated. The videos available from multiple angles do not show Pretti brandishing a weapon.

Family Response and Official Claims

Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan, told local outlet KARE 11 they were "heartbroken but also very angry," rejecting what they called "sickening lies" from officials who suggested he had approached agents while brandishing a firearm. Some public figures, including South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, repeated claims that Pretti posed an imminent threat; Pretti’s family and the visible footage dispute that account.

According to reports, Pretti was legally permitted to carry a firearm. Family members and supporters have called for a full and transparent investigation into the shooting and for the officers involved to be held accountable.

Broader Context

Pretti’s killing occurred 17 days after another Minneapolis shooting in which federal agents fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, also 37. That earlier case likewise prompted protests and a GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $1.5 million for Good’s family before organizers closed the fundraiser.

"Please get the truth about our son. He was a good man," the Pretti family said in a public statement.

Street demonstrations followed both deaths, and advocates are demanding independent reviews of the federal agents’ actions. As investigations continue, the online fundraising and public response underscore the high emotions and national attention surrounding these incidents.