In the quiet corners of a crowded school cafeteria, she sat with her head bowed, praying that the laughter echoing off the walls wasn’t directed at her. With crooked teeth, oversized glasses, and a paralyzing social anxiety that made every interaction feel like a high-stakes performance, she was the easy target for every bully in the hallway. She spent her formative years convinced that her existence was a mistake, hiding behind textbooks and silence as the world whispered that she would never ever be enough. The taunts were relentless, branding her with labels that cut deeper than any physical scar. To her peers, she was the “ugly girl”—the one who didn’t fit the mold, the one destined to remain in the shadows. But what those bullies failed to realize was that the very traits they mocked were the seeds of a resilience they couldn’t possibly comprehend. While they were busy refining their cruelty, she was busy refining her soul. The transformation didn’t happen overnight. It was ...
His family described him as someone who wanted to make a difference, a caring person who loved the outdoors.
But another detail has also emerged in the reporting about nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal Border Patrol agents on January 24.
Alex adored Joule, his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog.
But Joule never got to know what happened to him, never had the chance to understand it or say goodbye to her person.
ICU nurse Alex Pretti, 37, was fatally shot in the middle of a Minneapolis street on January 24, just weeks after Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent. The Department of Homeland Security initially claimed federal agents fired in self-defense, asserting Pretti had a handgun. However, witness accounts and video footage show Pretti holding a cell phone, not a gun.
Pretti worked as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital. His family told the Associated Press he was deeply upset by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in the city.
“He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset,” said his father, Michael Pretti. “He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others.”
His mother, Susan Pretti, highlighted another of his passions: the environment. “He hated that, you know, people were just trashing the land,” she told AP. “He was an outdoorsman. He took his dog everywhere he went. You know, he loved this country, but he hated what people were doing to it.”
Final days with his beloved dog
At 37 years old, Alex Pretti’s life was cut tragically short, but the part of him people remember most isn’t how he died. It’s how deeply he loved, especially the love he carried in his heart for his dog.
Tragically, Alex had recently lost his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog, Joule — his constant companion on every adventure. From hiking trails to long drives and even simple daily routines, Alex and Joule were inseparable, a bond his family described as unbreakable.
”I remember how sweet it was that, as his dog was more elderly, less mobile, he’d be willing to carry him down to the yard to get some fresh air and to enjoy the outdoors. His dog would lay down and Alex would sit with him and pet him for long periods of time. He was very caring, you could tell,” one neighbor told CBS.
Catahoulas are known for their fierce loyalty and protective nature, forming deep, unwavering bonds with those they love. They’re bursting with energy and intelligence, always ready for adventure, play, or any challenge that tests their sharp minds and athleticism. Yet beneath that wild, spirited exterior lies a gentle, loving heart, full of affection for those they trust.
The name Joule carries a meaning that resonates even deeper. In science, a joule is a unit of energy — the same surge of power used in defibrillators to restart a heart. For Alex, it was more than a name; it symbolized the spark of life, energy, and love he shared with his dog. Many on social media have called it the perfect name for a Catahoula — full of strength, heart, and unstoppable spirit.
A few minor traffic tickets
Besides spending time hiking and exploring the outdoors, Alex seemed to live a quiet, peaceful life, his family said. He had no run-ins with law enforcement beyond a few minor traffic tickets, and court records confirmed he had no criminal history.
A few weeks before the protests, his parents, who live in Wisconsin, urged him to stay safe. “We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically,” Michael Pretti said. “And he said he knows that. He knew that.”
The family also confirmed that Alex owned a handgun with a permit to carry in Minnesota, but they had never known him to carry it in public.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the family’s account aligns with law enforcement records, noting Pretti was a lawful gun owner.
After seeing videos that labeled their son a “domestic terrorist,” the Prettis pushed back. “The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” they said in a statement. “Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”
Pretti had been politically active. His ex-wife told AP he was a Democratic voter who had joined protests following George Floyd’s killing in 2020.
“He may shout at law enforcement officers at a protest but had never been physically confrontational,” she said.
Born in Illinois, Pretti grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he played football, baseball, ran track at Preble High School, was a Boy Scout, and sang in the Green Bay Boy Choir. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, society, and the environment.
He worked as a research scientist before returning to school to become a registered nurse.
His parents recalled their last conversation with Alex, a couple of days before the shooting, about repairs he had done to the garage door. A Latino man who helped him received a $100 tip from Alex, showing his generosity.
A great heart
Doctor Dmitri Drekonja, who worked with Pretti at the VA, described him as a friendly, helpful, and upbeat colleague.
“He was the type of person you enjoyed being around and the notion that this helpful, smiling, joking guy was being labelled a terrorist? It’s galling,” Drekonja said.
Neighbors remembered Pretti as quiet, warmhearted, and kind. “He’s a wonderful person,” said Sue Gitar, who lived downstairs from him. “He has a great heart. I never thought of him as a person who carried a gun.”
This is truly a heartbreaking tragedy. What makes it even more painful is the love Alex shared with Joule and his deep connection to the outdoors — it was a bond so pure, unbreakable, and full of life. Hopefully, they are reunited on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
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