Family of Alex Pretti speaks out in exclusive interview: 'They murdered our child'
Seven months after 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed by two federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, his grieving family said they want "accountability" in their first television interview.
"We've seen what happened. The videos are pretty clear. But we want justice. We want accountability for the people that did this to Alex," his father, Michael Pretti, said in the exclusive interview with "Good Morning America" co-anchor George Stephanopoulos while joined by his wife and daughter.
Alex Pretti, an American citizen and ICU nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs, was killed on Jan. 24, roughly two weeks after fellow U.S. citizen Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis during the Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge" immigration crackdown. Both shootings sparked nationwide outrage and demands for accountability over federal officers' deadly use of force in Minneapolis.
Michael Pretti said his son was observing immigration activity when the shooting occurred.
"He cared deeply about his community. Minneapolis was his community. He wanted people to be treated fairly, no matter what walk of life, what their background was," Michael Pretti said.
Watch the interview with the Prettis and George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America," airing Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 7 a.m.
Eyewitness video shows that Alex Pretti appeared to be recording when a federal officer shoves a woman into him. He seems to try to help her, and then both of his hands are visible -- one holding a phone and the other held up, seemingly to protect himself from pepper spray -- when he's wrestled to the ground. His firearm, which he had a legal permit to carry, was removed by an officer while he was on the ground and before approximately 10 shots were fired, the video shows.
His parents said they found out their son had been shot while watching the coverage of the shooting on the news. His mother said she recognized her son's jacket and sunglasses from the footage.
"That's how we found out, watching it on TV. Watching our son be shot ten times on TV," Michael Pretti said.
"In the back," Susan Pretti, Alex's mother, added.
"I was not shocked that he helped somebody. My shock is that he was murdered and no one has given us the complete truth or anyone has been held accountable. And it's been seven months," Susan Pretti said.
"What did he do to deserve to be murdered? To be left cold, on the ground, dead, my child? What did he do?" she asked.
In the wake of the deadly shooting, some Trump administration officials were quick to blame Alex Pretti. Former Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino said it looked like Pretti wanted "to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement," and then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed he "committed an act of domestic terrorism."
Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller posted on social media that he was an "assassin" and "domestic terrorist."
When asked about the response, Michael Pretti said, "There was more effort in vilifying him than pursuing justice, investigating this."
After video of him in a confrontation with federal agents 11 days before the shooting surfaced on social media, President Donald Trump called Alex Pretti an "agitator" and "perhaps" an "insurrectionist" in a social media post.
Asked what it felt like to hear those things said about their family member, his sister, Micayla Pretti, said, "I don't think you would like my answer."
"It's so un-presidential," Michael Pretti said. "It's ridiculous that, you know, the leader of the free world speaks that way about an American citizen."
Susan Pretti said she wants an apology for what was said about her son. "Why shouldn't we get one?" she asked.
The Department of Justice opened a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting. Steve Schleicher, an attorney for the Pretti family, told ABC News that they don't know where that stands or what information they've gathered.
"They at least have the right to know who shot Alex Pretti," Schleicher said. "They have the right to be consulted with meaningfully, they have the right to meet with the prosecutors, they have the right to have the process not drag on too long. They have the right to be informed, and that's just not being done here."
In a letter to then-Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche last month, Schleicher said that the U.S. attorney in Minnesota met with the Pretti family on July 13 but that "the meeting raised more questions than answers."
A DOJ spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News, "As is standard protocol, family member communications, if any, come at a later stage of a case, such as at indictment, initial appearance, plea, trial, or sentencing. Communications with family do not typically occur during an investigation."
The Department of Homeland Security and FBI are also involved in the investigation, the DOJ said. A DHS spokesperson told ABC News that the investigation remains active, while the FBI declined to comment.
ABC News asked the White House if Trump and Stephen Miller still stand by what they said about Alex Pretti, but they did not answer the question.
A DHS spokesperson said the agency "works to give the American people accurate information as quickly as possible. These statements were made based on information received on the ground from CBP."
"This is a law enforcement matter and an active investigation and we refer you to FBI for further questions. We urge individuals not to impede any law enforcement action and ICE operations," the spokesperson said.
Asked what justice looks like for them, Micayla Pretti said she wants the names of the agents who shot her brother officially released.
"They murdered our child," Susan Pretti said. "People need to be held responsible when they murder people in this country. Period."
Editor's note: This story has been updated.
