Statement from the Chair of the Libertarian Party of Florida on the Killing of Alex Pretti

The Libertarian Party of Florida mourns the tragic killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, who was fatally shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. Pretti’s death has generated widespread concern after bystander video footage showed multiple angles of the incident, including the apparent removal of a firearm from his person by an agent moments before he was shot. These discrepancies between official accounts and available video raise grave questions about the use of lethal force by federal law enforcement.

Libertarians believe that the state exists only to protect individual rights, not to wield power without accountability. The use of deadly force against an individual under controversial circumstances undermines the fundamental right to life and erodes public trust in government enforcement agencies. The fact that Mr. Pretti was shot after being disarmed, according to multiple video analyses, underscores the urgent need for full transparency, independent investigation, and accountability at every level of law enforcement.

Moreover, the existence of federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) represents an unnecessary expansion of government power into areas that threaten personal liberty and safety. Rather than protecting freedom, ICE’s actions too often embody an aggressive assertion of authority that results in violence and civil liberties violations. In light of this and other similar incidents, the Libertarian Party of Florida calls for the abolition of ICE and a fundamental reexamination of federal immigration enforcement policy.

Individual rights and due process must be the cornerstone of any legitimate enforcement system. We urge federal and state authorities to conduct a truly independent and transparent investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti, to hold any officers who acted contrary to the rule of law accountable, and to enact reforms that restore civil liberties rather than strip them away.

Liberty is the right to live free from coercion … including coercion carried out in the name of the “public good.”

Matt Johnson, Chair

Libertarian Party of Florida