The individual fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis over the weekend has been identified by his grieving family.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, worked as an intensive care nurse at the Veterans Administration and was known for his deep empathy towards others. He expressed distress over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies in his city. Pretti, a nature enthusiast, enjoyed outdoor activities with his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog named Joule, who also recently passed away.

He participated in protests following the death of Renee Good at the hands of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer earlier in the month.

According to Michael Pretti, Alex’s father, “He cared deeply about people and was greatly troubled by the situation in Minneapolis and across the United States involving ICE, echoing the sentiments of millions of others. Engaging in protests was his way of showing his concern for others.”

Pretti, a U.S. citizen born in Illinois, had a clean record like Good, with court documents indicating no criminal background. His family mentioned that apart from minor traffic infractions, he had no prior encounters with law enforcement.

Before the unfortunate incident, Pretti’s parents, who live in Wisconsin, cautioned him to be vigilant during his participation in protests.

The Department of Homeland Security reported that Pretti was shot after allegedly approaching U.S. Border Patrol officers while carrying a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. However, it remains unclear whether he brandished the weapon, as it was not visible in bystander footage obtained by The Associated Press.

Relatives confirmed that Pretti owned a handgun and possessed a concealed carry permit in Minnesota, although they were unaware of him carrying it.

Upon being notified by an Associated Press journalist about the shooting, the family viewed the video footage and identified the deceased as their son. Their attempts to obtain information from Minnesota authorities were initially unfruitful.

Subsequently, the family contacted the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, who confirmed that a body matching their son’s description was in their possession.