When Mac Randolph was watching the news on January 24, 2026, he immediately knew the 37-year-old man who was shot and killed by a federal officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His name was Alex Pretti. Mac said he was the ICU nurse who had cared for his 77-year old father, Terrance Lee Randolph, during his final days at the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center.

BREAKING: When Mac Randolph was watching the news on January 24, 2026, he immediately knew the 37-year-old man who was shot and killed by a federal officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His name was Alex Pretti. Mac said he was the ICU nurse who had cared for his 77-year old father, Terrance Lee Randolph, during his final days at the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center.

Alex stayed with their family through their hardest moments and spent about four days in the ICU. He gently explained what would happen when oxygen was turned off for his father. And on December 10, 2024, Terrance passed away. But Alex was right there to read his final salute, and he read it with deep respect and compassion. In a video of the moment posted by Mac to social media, Alex said, “Today we remember that freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it, and even sacrifice for it. May we never forget and always remember our brothers and sisters who have served, so that we may enjoy the gift of freedom. In this moment, we remember and give thanks for their dedication and selfless service to our nation in the cause of our freedom.”

The Randolph family said Terrance grew up with a “deep sense of kindness, generosity, and compassion.” And in the end, Terrance received the same compassion back from Alex. In a statement, Mac said his father’s last words to him was to “continue to fight the good fight.”

(Photo: The Randolph Family / U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

**MINNEAPOLIS (January 27, 2026)** — A 37-year-old Minneapolis man fatally shot by a federal officer on January 24 has been identified as **Alex Jeffrey Pretti**, an intensive care unit nurse at the Veterans Affairs hospital in the city. The killing, which occurred during a large federal immigration enforcement operation, has intensified public scrutiny and protests in Minneapolis. ([ABC News][1])

Pretti, a U.S. citizen and registered nurse, was killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent while officers were conducting an operation in south Minneapolis. Federal officials have said the agent fired defensive shots after trying to disarm Pretti, claiming he approached with a handgun. Local authorities have confirmed Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit, but videos and witness accounts released so far show him holding a cellphone and not brandishing a weapon at the time of the encounter

The incident occurred amid ongoing clashes between community members and federal agents deployed under a broad immigration crackdown. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have sharply criticized federal accounts of the shooting, pointing to video evidence and calling for accountability.

For many who knew him, Pretti’s life was defined by compassion and service. **Mac Randolph**, who saw the footage on January 24 and immediately recognized Pretti, said he had cared for his own father, **Terrance Lee Randolph**, during the man’s final days at the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center. Randolph described Pretti’s support during his father’s ICU stay — gently explaining procedures and remaining present with deep respect — as a defining act of kindness in their family’s hardest moments. ([TIME][3])

According to Randolph, Pretti also delivered a heartfelt tribute when Terrance passed away in December 2024, saying:

> “Today we remember that freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it, and even sacrifice for it… May we never forget and always remember our brothers and sisters who have served…”

The Randolph family remembered Terrance as someone who lived with “a deep sense of kindness, generosity, and compassion,” traits they said were returned to him by Pretti in his final moments. In a statement, Mac Randolph said his father’s last words to him were to “continue to fight the good fight,” a charge he says will guide their response to his loss

The shooting has raised urgent questions about federal law enforcement tactics, community safety, and the circumstances that led to the use of deadly force. Investigations by city, state, and federal authorities are ongoing. ([ABC News][1])

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