Heartfelt Letters After a Tragic Loss

A small box on the kitchen table holds about two hundred letters and cards that have arrived at a Denver family’s home since their son, Alex Pretti, was shot by immigration agents in Minneapolis.

“We keep getting more each day.” – Michael Pretti

The messages come from doctors, veterans, and strangers who remember Alex as a caring nurse at the Veterans Affairs hospital. Some praise him for helping a woman who was pushed to the ground by a Customs and Border Protection officer, while others call him a hero for standing up before being shot several times.

Voices from the Community

• Doctors: Thank Alex for his compassion and professionalism.
• Veterans: Recall his dedication to fellow service members.
• Strangers: Share stories of how Alex’s kindness touched their lives.

Family Reflections

• Michael Pretti: “I expect more letters each day.”
• Susan Pretti: Remembers Alex as their first child and the one who made her a mother. She insists, “There was no reason he should have died that day.”

The letters help the family remember Alex’s kindness and love for his patients, family, and community. They reveal that while Alex didn’t discuss politics often with them, he was deeply upset about the large federal raid in Minnesota. Alex had joined many others who protested those raids.

These words keep Alex’s story alive and show the impact of his life on many people.