Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN) stands in solidarity with the community of Minneapolis and the family of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

This murder marks the second fatal shooting involving federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks, following the murder of Renée Nicole Good on January 7, 2026.

“This is the second murder in less than three weeks, and it is unacceptable and heartbreaking,” said Rev. Paul M. Larson, Advocacy Director with Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada. “We condemn this violence in the strongest possible terms. A U.S. citizen, an ICU nurse, a neighbor, was killed on the streets of Minneapolis in broad daylight. We stand with the community demanding transparency, accountability, and justice.”

Reports from Minneapolis, along with bystander accounts and video evidence, have raised serious concerns about the use of force and the circumstances surrounding Mr. Pretti’s death. Community members, local leaders, and advocates are calling for independent investigations and full accountability.

Across the country, communities are reporting increasingly aggressive and militarized enforcement tactics that endanger immigrants, U.S. citizens, legal observers, and bystanders alike. No one should live in fear of violence.

As people of faith, Lutherans affirm the sacred worth and dignity of every person. Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada remains committed to advocating for policies rooted in dignity, safety, and justice, and to standing with communities harmed by state violence.

LEAN calls for transparency, independent investigation, and meaningful accountability to ensure that such tragedies do not continue.