San Diego protesters rally after federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti during Minneapolis enforcement operation

Demonstrations in San Diego followed a fatal shooting involving federal immigration officers in Minnesota

Hundreds of people gathered in San Diego over the weekend to protest the killing of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who was shot during an encounter with federal immigration officers in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The San Diego protest was one of several demonstrations nationwide that emerged within days of the shooting, reflecting heightened public scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics and accountability mechanisms.

In San Diego, participants assembled in City Heights on January 24, where organizers and attendees called for transparency in the investigation and raised broader concerns about immigration enforcement in local communities. The gathering included chants and signs centered on Pretti’s death and opposition to federal operations. Video from the event showed a crowd that spilled into the surrounding area as passing drivers honked in support.

What is known about the Minneapolis incident

Federal authorities have stated that Pretti was shot during an attempted detention that escalated into a struggle. A formal notification to Congress described a confrontation in which two federal officers fired their weapons: one Border Patrol agent and one Customs and Border Protection officer. The notice said the conclusion was based on a review of body-worn camera footage and agency documentation by investigators within CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

The congressional notification said officers attempted to take Pretti into custody and that he resisted. During the struggle, a Border Patrol agent repeatedly yelled that Pretti had a gun, and the two officers subsequently fired. The number of shots and the sequence of events remain central to the ongoing investigation.

Video evidence and investigative review

Investigators are reviewing body-camera videos from multiple angles. Publicly circulating bystander video has contributed to a rapidly evolving debate over what Pretti was holding and whether he posed an imminent threat at the moment shots were fired. The existence of multiple recordings has increased pressure for a timely release of key footage and for clarity on decision-making during the encounter.

Broader political and legal fallout

The killing occurred amid intensified immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota and drew responses from national officials. In Washington, the congressional notification underscored that multiple federal personnel were involved in the shooting, a detail that has become a focal point for oversight. The event has also intersected with ongoing court disputes and diplomatic tensions connected to federal immigration actions in the region.

• San Diego protesters called for accountability and urged a full release of relevant video and investigative findings.
• Federal reporting to Congress confirmed that two officers fired during the incident.
• Body-camera footage is under review, with multiple videos expected to inform investigative determinations.

Key unanswered questions include which officer’s shots were fatal, how officers assessed risk in real time, and what policies governed escalation and use of force.

Authorities have not announced final findings, and the investigation remains ongoing. Further developments are expected as oversight bodies review the incident and as additional video and documentation are examined.