Caretakers clean Alex Pretti memorial site after vandalism
Sep 11, 2026 | 2:08 pm ET
Description
Volunteers clean up the Alex Pretti memorial after a vandal poured motor oil, which is not flammable, over the site Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. Pretti was disarmed, restrained and then shot and killed by federal agents January 24, 2026. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
Early Friday morning, caretakers arrived at Alex Pretti’s memorial, finding it doused in two gallons of synthetic motor oil.
Motor oil is not flammable, and much of the memorial remains unharmed. Volunteer caretakers quickly gathered throughout the morning to wash the ground and chairs, and to clean offerings that visitors leave at the site. Caretakers expect the site to be cleaned and reset by the end of the day as volunteers continue arriving to help.
Minneapolis police responded to the scene.
Alex Pretti was disarmed, restrained, then shot and killed by federal agents on Jan. 24 during Operation Metro Surge, weeks after agents shot and killed Renee Good. Volunteer caretakers have looked after the memorial site ever since.
Saint Paul, MN
