State officials have identified the victim of Saturday’s fatal shooting by federal agents as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen. The incident has triggered a major legal standoff, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz calling for an independent state-led investigation after alleging that federal authorities blocked state agents from the crime scene.

Authorities said federal agents encountered Pretti during the operation and believed he posed a threat. Witnesses and video circulating online appear to show a different sequence of events, with the man holding a phone and trying to help others before agents used pepper spray and physical force. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim was identified as a U.S. citizen who worked as an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Family members and local leaders said he was not a target of the operation and questioned the official account released by federal authorities, noting he was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry who appeared to be recording the agents.

The shooting quickly drew public attention and led to demonstrations in Minneapolis and other cities. While federal officials maintain the shooting was defensive, a federal judge has already issued a restraining order to ensure all evidence from the site is preserved. State leaders, led by Governor Walz, have labeled the federal narrative as “nonsense” and continue to push for full transparency as the legal battle over investigative jurisdiction intensifies.