'Justice For Alex!' Rally, Protesting Death Of Nurse Shot By ICE Agents, Planned Today In Medford

MEDFORD, NY — A protest that was canceled due to bad weather on Tuesday has been organized for Thursday afternoon in Medford, decrying the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, according to mobilize.us.

United Voices of Freedom is hosting "Justice for Alex!" at the Park and Ride near Exit 63 of the Long Island Expressway.

It will run from 3 to 5 p.m.

Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot multiple times by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during a confrontation on Saturday morning, The Associated Press reported.

"We rally for Alex!," organizers said in a post on mobilize.us. "Justice for those [who] have been murdered by ICE!"

"Bring signs! Bring energy!," the post stated.

Organizers urged that participants not engage with "hecklers, bystanders, agitators, negative people in cars."

"You must always de-escalate, leave space between you and/or walk away," the post said. "We cannot get baited into responding violently. No matter the provocation!"

The rally has been volunteer-organized for Indivisible.

The post further states that a core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action.

"We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values," it states.

When asked if extra officers would be assigned to the original rally on Tuesday, Suffolk police told Patch: "As with any demonstration or public gathering planned in Suffolk County, the department will adjust its resources as needed to ensure the safety of all residents."

Federal authorities said Pretti was shot after he approached agents with a handgun, as they were conducting a targeted enforcement operation. Pretti's family told The AP that he was a nurse at the Veterans Administration who cared deeply about people and was upset by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in his city.

“He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests," said Michael Pretti, Alex’s father.

The Department of Homeland Security said the shooting occurred as ICE agents were conducting a targeted operation in search of a person wanted for violent assault. Federal officials said the man approached agents with a handgun.

"The officers attempted to disarm the suspect, but the armed suspect violently resisted. More details on the armed struggle are forthcoming," DHS said in a statement. "Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject, but was pronounced dead at the scene."

Federal officials said the man had two magazines as well as the gun.

Officials did not specify if Pretti brandished the gun, and it is not visible in bystander video of the shooting obtained by The AP.

Family members said Pretti owned a handgun and had a Minnesota concealed carry permit, but they had never known him to carry it.

In a recent conversation with their son, his parents, who live in Wisconsin, told him to be careful when protesting.

“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.”

The shooting came amid widespread daily protests in the Twin Cities since the Jan. 7 shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was killed when an ICE officer fired into her vehicle. A week later, a Venezuelan man was shot in the leg after federal officials claimed he tried to assault ICE agents.

Like Good, court records showed Pretti had no criminal record, and his family said he had never had any interactions with law enforcement beyond a handful of traffic tickets.

At a news conference held after the shooting, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke directly to President Donald Trump, urging him to end federal operations in the city to achieve peace.

"How many more resident Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end? How many more lives need to be lost before this administration realizes a political and partisan narrative is not as important as American values?" Frey said. "How many times must local and national leaders plead with you, Donald Trump, for you to recognize this is not creating safety in our city?"

Similar rallies to Tuesday's protesting ICE policies have been held in past weeks throughout Brookhaven Town in communities like Mount Sinai and Patchogue.

Another rally, New York East End: ICE Party 2, is also planned for Feb. 8 at Mount Sinai Pier.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.