Dozens of individuals gathered outside the U.S. Consulate in Toronto on January 25, 2026, to hold a vigil in memory of Alex Pretti, who was tragically shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis a few days prior, on January 22. The 37-year-old Pretti was recognized as an intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, and his family revealed that he actively participated in protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies in Minneapolis.

U.S. officials reported that Pretti was armed and possessed a permit to carry a firearm. They stated that the officers fired their weapons defensively after he allegedly approached them. However, videos taken by bystanders do not seem to capture any evidence of Pretti holding a weapon at the time he was shot, leading to significant public outrage and subsequent protests following his death.

During the vigil, organizers claimed that attendance reached at least 150 people at its peak, although police estimated the crowd at around 60. Claudia Calabro, one of the event organizers, expressed the significance of communal grieving in the wake of traumatic events. Her personal connection to the U.S. was underscored by her marriage to an American, which fosters ties with family and friends across the border.

Calabro voiced the sentiments shared by many when she stated, “We are sick to our stomachs for them and for their communities and their neighbours, but in the end, it doesn’t matter if you know people who are there or not. No one deserves to be murdered in the street for standing up for their neighbour. And that’s what Alex Pretti was doing.”

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions issued a statement remarking that Pretti was killed “for trying to help and for speaking up for peace.” The organization, which represents over 250,000 union nurses across Canada, expressed pride in Pretti's actions, reaffirming their support for his family and colleagues during this difficult time.