Online fundraiser for Alex Pretti raises nearly $400,000 in a day after fatal shooting
An online fundraiser for the family of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse who was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has raised nearly $400,000 by Sunday morning. This comes just one day after Pretti's death, which sparked another wave of street protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies. The campaign, titled 'Alex Pretti is an American Hero', quickly surpassed its initial goal of $20,000, demonstrating the public's strong sentiment in support of Pretti and his family.
The campaign organizer, Keith Edwards, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support, stating that the funds will be used to provide immediate assistance to Pretti's loved ones. Edwards also mentioned that he had been in contact with Pretti's family since Saturday and was working with GoFundMe to ensure they were the beneficiaries of the campaign.
Pretti's actions before his death have been widely celebrated. Videos show him directing traffic and filming federal immigration agents, who were responding to the Trump White House's request. In one video, Pretti is seen defending a legal observer who was pushed to the ground by a federal officer. The officer then used a chemical agent on Pretti, tackled him to the street, and was later seen reaching for what appeared to be a gun, shouting, 'Gun! Gun!' Another officer pulled out a gun and shot Pretti at close range, with a volley of 10 more shots following.
Pretti's parents, in a statement to Minneapolis news outlet Kare 11, expressed their heartbreak and anger, refuting false claims made by Trump administration officials. They emphasized that Pretti was not holding a gun when he was attacked and urged the public to seek the truth about their son's death. The Pretti family's tragic story comes just 17 days after another 37-year-old American citizen, Renee Nicole Good, was shot dead by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis, with video evidence of her attempting to drive away from the officer.
