The parents of Alex effrey Pretti who was shot dead by ICE agents on Saturday have broken their silence.

The 37- year-old, an American citizen and ICU nurse, was fatally shot by a federal agent. He was apparently armed, but possessed a valid licence. Homeland Security issued a statement alleging Petti “violently resisted” attempts to disarm him and was carrying a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and two magazines.

The Department of Homeland Security said Mr Pretti was armed, though details about the circumstances of the shooting remain unclear. Hours after the fatal shooting his parents have called on the media to “get the truth out about our son” as they accuse the Trump administration of promoting “sickening lies” about their son.

Federal agents stand near the site of a shooting Saturday,

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Federal agents stand near the site of a shooting Saturday(Image: AP)

READ MORE: Man killed by federal agents was part of ICE alert group as neighbour speaks out

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Michael and Susan Pretti shared a statement through the Minnesota DFL on Saturday evening saying they are “heartbroken but also very angry,” and calling him a kindhearted soul who wanted to make a difference in the world through his work as a nurse.

“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,” the family statement concluded: “Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”

Alex has been described as "a good man"

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Alex has been described as “a good man”(Image: AP)

Pretti worked as an Intensive Care Unit nurse at the Minneapolis VA Center, serving sick veterans and was distressed by President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement in his city. He had taken part in demonstrations following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Law Enforcement officer earlier this month.

During a recent chat with their son, his parents, who reside in Wisconsin, urged him to exercise caution whilst demonstrating. “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.”