The tragic shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse in Minneapolis, has caused shock and deep sadness, particularly within the professional nursing community. Pretti, known by family, colleagues and friends as a compassionate healthcare provider dedicated to patient care, was shot and killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026.

The incident occurred amid widespread protests against federal immigration enforcement actions and has heightened national tensions over the use of force by law enforcement. The shooting of Pretti has led to public outcry and renewed calls for transparency and accountability in how the events unfolded.

As a nursing and health-care community, we are saddened and deeply affected by what happened. The nursing profession is founded on profound ethical values, including the protection of life, safeguarding the most vulnerable, and respect for human dignity. In moments of great sorrow such as this, we extend our solidarity to those affected and reaffirm the importance of conducting objective, transparent and thorough investigations so that the circumstances can be clearly understood.

“As the community of the Master’s programmes in Healthcare at the University of Parma, we express our deepest sympathy to the individuals and families affected by this tragedy. We join in the call for truth and clarity, without any form of political instrumentalisation, in respect of human dignity and the ethical values that guide our profession.” – Antonio Bonacaro, President of the Master’s programmes in Healthcare