Alex Pretti’s mother, Susan, shared a heartfelt note on Instagram on what would have been her son’s 38th birthday. The ICU nurse was fatally shot by the US Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on January 24 this year.
Alex Pretti was in Minnesota when he was being restrained by some Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents before being fatally shot. He became the second US citizen to have been killed by ICE agents in January, after Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota. It led to a huge backlash and protests against the organization.
On Sunday, March 1, Pretti’s mother, Susan Pretti, shared a story on Instagram about her son’s birthday. She shared a picture of him with the caption:
“Today should be your 38th birthday… When you lose your son, you lose more than a child. You lose a piece of your heart and your joy. Life is forever altered and nothing can ever fill that space. Yet in my soul, he remains, my precious boy, forever loved. His laughter, his smile and his love are woven into who I am.”
“My love for him will never fade. You are my pride and my joy. You’ve made a chance that cannot be broken,” she added.
Blogger Perez Hilton has reacted to this post from Susan on his website, writing:
“Ugh!! Just devastating!! So, so heartbreaking. Our thoughts continue to be with Susan and the rest of the loved ones Alex left behind. He will always be remembered.”
Alex Pretti is survived by his parents, Susan and Michael, and his sister, whose name hasn’t been publicly revealed. He also has an ex-wife, Rachel Canoun.
When Alex Pretti’s parents opened up about their son’s death
Alex Pretti’s parents, Susan and Michael, reportedly live in Colorado and got to know about their son’s death through the Associated Press. Following his death, they also gave an interview to the outlet, expressing their grief, but also anger at the alleged lies being spread against him. They also revealed that they had last spoken to their son two days before his death.
Susan and Michael’s statement read:
“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand, and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper-sprayed. Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.”
After Alex Pretti’s death, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE claimed that agents shot him in self-defense. They stated that he was carrying a gun when he was restrained.
However, it was later revealed that Pretti had a valid permit for his firearm. Moreover, videos released from the incident showed that he never brandished his gun against any officer. He only had his phone in his hand when he was being restrained.
Edited by Aditya Singh