"My brother...my hero"

January 28, 2026

Snowfall at sunrise in Coeur d’Alene park in west Spokane

Micayla Pretti’s tribute and defense of her brother Alex

Each hour seems to add fresh layers of anguish in what we see and learn about the murder, Saturday, of Alex Pretti, the Veterans Administration ICU nurse in Minneapolis. This at the hands of U.S. Homeland Security agents.

In the midst of the maelstrom it just seems right to clear some space for sister Micayla’s reaction and remembrance, and let her words speak for themselves. —tjc

Alex Pretti, official Veterans Administration photo, via Wikimedia Commons

“Alex was kind, generous, and had a way of lighting up every room he walked into. He was incredibly intelligent and deeply passionate, and he made people feel safe. But most importantly, he was my brother. I had the privilege of being his little sister for 32 years. I will never be able to hug him, laugh with him, or cry to him again because of those thugs — and that is a pain no words can fully capture.

“Alex always wanted to make a difference in this world, and it’s devastating that he won’t be here to witness the impact he was making. Through his work at the VA caring for the sickest patients, and passion to advance cancer research, he touched more lives than he probably ever realized. All Alex ever wanted was to help someone — anyone. Even in his very last moments on this earth, he was simply trying to do just that.

“I want to thank everyone who has reached out to my family and me, whether you knew Alex personally or not. The messages, posts, and overwhelming positivity shared about him truly reflect his character, work ethic, and passions. My brother is, and always will be, my hero.

“When does this end? How many more innocent lives must be lost before we say enough? Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching, and my family is deeply grateful so many people have stood up and helped tell his truth. He would be very proud.”

Candlelight memorial to Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, photo Chad Davis via Wikimedia Commons