Alex Pretti’s parents have painted a portrait of their son that contrasts sharply with official accounts. Pretti, 37, was an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, known for his calm, compassionate care, especially for veterans.

The Department of Homeland Security said he was shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a “targeted operation,” claiming he approached officers armed with a handgun and resisted disarmament.

His parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, rejected this portrayal, describing him as kindhearted and motivated by concern for others, not violence. They emphasized that he was not aggressive toward law enforcement.