Tragic Incident Involving Water Patrol Agents Under Scrutiny

A physician recounted the distressing moment he attempted to save Alex Preti, who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents. The family of the ICU nurse described him as “kind-hearted” while accusing the Trump administration of spreading “lies” regarding his actions.

The pediatrician was one of two witnesses who testified under oath, stating that Preti, 37, was not threatening anyone with a weapon when the federal agents approached, which contradicts statements made by administration officials.

A lawsuit was filed by the ACLU on behalf of protesters from Minneapolis against the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, in a federal court in Minnesota.

The anonymous witnesses detailed how they were initially barred from providing medical help to Preti by federal personnel. One doctor recounted, “At first, the ICE officers wouldn’t let me through. But none of the ICE officers near the victim were performing CPR, so I knew he was critically injured. I insisted on being allowed to examine him.”

This 29-year-old doctor claimed he witnessed the shooting from his apartment window. He noted, “We did see Mr. Preti yelling at federal employees, but we did not witness him attack or brandish a weapon.”

After medical personnel finally gained access, they observed federal agents “appearing to count” instead of rendering immediate aid to Preti, who had suffered a gunshot wound.

Affidavits from doctors indicated that Preti had “at least three possible gunshot wounds to his back, one to his upper left chest, and another to his neck.” They further added, “We checked for a pulse and could not feel one.”

Friends and family portrayed Preti as a compassionate nurse dedicated to caring for veterans at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. His parents, Michael and Susan, shared in a statement, “Alex was a kind-hearted man who cared deeply for his family and the veterans he tended to. He aimed to make a positive impact, but now he won’t be here to witness that.”

They criticized what they referred to as “lies” from the Department of Homeland Security, asserting their son was not a threat when he died but was attempting to protect a woman nearby during the incident.

“The horrible lies the administration has told about our son are simply reprehensible,” they concluded. His colleague, Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, echoed this sentiment, describing Preti as a cheerful person with a constant smile.

Minneapolis police confirmed that Preti was a legal gun owner with a permit. President Trump shared an image of Preti’s Sig Sauer P320 handgun on Truth Social, questioning why he brought a loaded weapon to the protest and speculating on potential missed commands from local police.

Trump commented, “This is a gunman’s gun, loaded (plus two full magazines!) and ready to go. What does this mean? Where are the local police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE officers? Did the mayor and governor fire them?” He expressed concern for the safety of ICE agents and criticized the situation further.