A fundraiser launched in the memory of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis man shot dead by Border Patrol agents, amassed over a million dollars in just over a day after it hit GoFundMe.

Alex Pretti family fundraiserA fundraiser launched for the family of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis man shot dead by Border Patrol agents on Saturday. (GoFundMe)

In just over a day’s time, an online fundraiser organised to benefit Alex Pretti‘s family has raised more than $1 million despite having set a significantly lower initial goal of $20,000. The massive donations are a clear indicator of the overwhelming support pouring in for the Minneapolis man’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, after the 37-year-old was shot and killed by Border Patrol officers in south Minneapolis on Saturday (US time).

Amid the Donald Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown in the US city, Pretti’s death at the hands of federal authorities has sparked yet another round of widespread protests. While many have taken to streets with their loud “ICE Out” slogans, others also decided to come to the aid of Pretti’s parents in light of the second fatal shooting involving immigration officials in the city within the same month.

Alex Pretti fundraiser garners over $1 million in one day

Organiser Keith Edwards launched the GoFundMe campaign titled “Alex Pretti is an American Hero” on the same day the Minneapolis man lost his life. Shortly after the harrowing incident came to light with the emergence of its footage on social media, Pretti was identified as an US citizen and a registered nurse working in the ICU at the Minneapolis VA healthcare system, which serves veterans.

At the time of writing, the fundraiser had amassed $1,065,086, which was well above the original goal of $20,000.

“This fundraiser is intended to support the loved ones he leaves behind with immediate and ongoing needs,” the GoFundMe campaign’s organiser wrote inside at the time. “Because details are still unfolding, and to ensure the money goes to the right person, funds will not be distributed until we can verify next-of-kin and identify the appropriate family representative to manage anything raised.

Edwards further promised that if, for any reason, they fail to transfer the funds to Pretti’s family, the total amount would be directed to the Immigrant Defence Project, a nonprofit providing litigation, advocacy and community-defence resources to help immigrants defend their rights and fight deportation.

Offering a positive update on the matter, Edwards ultimately shared a follow-up message under the campaign itself. “UPDATE: Alex’s father has been added as the beneficiary of the fundraiser, so their family now has direct access to the funds raised,” he wrote in a new note. “Thank you to everyone who has been so generous either donating or sharing the fundraiser — you are what America can look like at our best.”

Bill Ackman makes contradictory move with GoFundMe donation

Billionaire hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman made a surprising move by donating $10,000 to a fundraiser for Pretti’s family, as spokesman for the Trump endorser shared with the Wall Street Journal.

Ackman’s latest move serves a contradiction to his own previous donation to a GoFundMe campaign for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer Jonathan Ross, who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis on January 7.

The Pershing Square founder even said that he had tried to support Good’s family as well, but the GoFundMe dedicated to her name had closed after hitting its goal.

“I am big believer in our legal principal that one is innocent until proven guilty,” he wrote in a post earlier this month. Sharing the GoFundMe pages committed to both Ross and Good’s cases, Ackman added, “To that end, I supported the @gofundme for Jonathan Ross and intended to similarly support the gofundme for Renee Good’s family (her gofundme was closed by the time I attempted to provide support).”

In yet another post shared on X this week, Ackman said, “We have reached a stage in our country where there are only two sides to every issue and every incident. Each side lives in protected echo chambers which are provided with a curated set of ‘facts’ and/or video footage from certain camera angles that are consistent with the preexisting views and conclusions of that side.”

About Alex Pretti’s shooting in Minneapolis

In a widely circulated statement, Pretti’s parents have urged authorities to “get the truth out about our son,” as they have accused the Trump administration of spreading “sickening lies” about him.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller branded the Minneapolis man a “domestic terrorist” who “tried to murder federal agents.” Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti “attacked” officers, adding he was “brandishing” a gun at the time of the incident.

However, as per the footage of the Minneapolis incident going around on social media, Alex Pretti was seen holding up his phone in his right hand, while his left hand remained empty. His parents maintain that even moments before his death Pretti tried to save a woman from Border Patrol agents.

The DHS, on the other hand, wrote on X, Pretti “approached” Border Patrol officer “with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun” when they were “conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault.” Although the footage available online doesn’t show a gun holding a gun, an officer is seen reaching to Pretti’s lower back as he seems to be picking up what appears to be a gun.

Moments later, another officer pulls out a gun and shoots Pretti at close range. As per the video, Pretti was shot multiple times, as he eventually collapsed on the floor. The agents were also seen pinning him to the ground and using pepper-spray on him before the gunfire went off.

While top officials like FBI Director Kash Patel have claimed that Pretti broke the law by carrying a concealed gun at a protest, the Minneapolis police chief revealed that the Minneapolis man had a permit to carry the gun, as per CNN.