Phoenix (The Palestine
Telegraph Newspaper) January 26, 2026 - A U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement officer fatally shot ICU nurse Alex Pretti during a January 22
confrontation at Banner Health University Medical Center in Phoenix Arizona.
The National Rifle Association criticised federal law enforcement training
while Department of Homeland Security officials defended the officer's use of
force against reported active resistance.
The Department of Justice Civil
Rights Division assumed investigation control with hospital records confirming
Pretti's prior disciplinary actions for medication diversion.
Phoenix Police Department
dispatched officers to the hospital following 911 calls reporting an armed
individual in scrubs accessing controlled substances on the ICU floor at 3:45
p.m. local time. Security footage showed the ICE officer approaching issuing
verbal commands which the nurse ignored while advancing with erratic movements
leading to physical engagement taser failure and single handgun discharge.
Paramedics pronounced Pretti dead
at 4:12 p.m. from exsanguination caused by a 9mm wound to the torso.
Phoenix hospital confrontation detailed timeline events
Dispatch logs recorded the initial 3:47 p.m. call describing unauthorised personnel near medication cabinets with security video capturing the officer's badge presentation and three compliance orders. Body camera footage documented taser deployment failure followed by lethal force application per departmental active threat protocols.
Maricopa County Medical
Examiner's autopsy confirmed the liver laceration trajectory consistent with
struggle dynamics.
Banner Health suspended staff
privileges pending Joint Commission review while implementing enhanced
medication security measures. Department of Homeland Security's Office of
Professional Responsibility initiated administrative probe including the
officer's requalification scores and psychological evaluations.
ICE use of force protocols officer training standards
The officer completed 40-hour annual firearms training in December 2025 scoring 98 percent across day night and stress scenarios with taser malfunction confirmed by cartridge analysis. Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre guidelines require 72-hour psychological debriefing and administrative leave pending clearance across DHS components.
Gun Owners of America questioned federal training uniformity versus state programmes allowing constitutional carry integration.
NRA Institute for Legislative
Action director Randy Kozuch highlighted Second Amendment protections for law
enforcement hiring avoiding ideological screening. The organisation coordinated
rallies near the hospital with 250 participants including Arizona sheriffs
advocating qualified immunity expansions.
National rifle association statements training critiques
NRA-ILA grass-roots efforts referenced 2025 DHS hiring declines linked to vaccination mandates and diversity policies. Association membership alerts cited 18 percent applicant drops impacting recruitment pools. State affiliates scheduled legislative briefings for qualified immunity bills overriding local ordinances.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
confirmed during January 23 briefing that toxicology showed fentanyl and
oxycodone metabolites in Pretti's system alongside controlled substances
violations. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted presidential
briefing on the incident supporting 287(g) programme expansions.
Banner health internal review disciplinary findings
Hospital committee analysis of
badge logs and dispensing records revealed Pretti's 18-month discipline
progression from counselling to unpaid suspensions for falsified counts and
drug screen failures. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rachel Levine reported 12
inventory discrepancies in 2025 with pharmacy board notifications. Staff
recredentialing and permanent access revocations followed board meeting
decisions.
Joint Commission survey scheduled
for February 2 will assess emergency preparedness and workplace violence
prevention compliance.
Alex pretti employment disciplinary record details
Pretti held Arizona RN licence
since 2014 with BSN from Grand Canyon University serving in cardiothoracic ICU
and trauma roles. File documented 2024 narcotic sheet falsification three-day
suspension 2024 positive drug screen five-day leave and 2025 prescription
misuse probe resolved via union grievance. Evaluations averaged 2.8 out of 5.0
below department norms in safety metrics.
Family statements described
financial pressures contributing to workplace issues.
Second amendment organisations coordinated activities
Gun Owners of America petitioned
for federal training reforms targeting 50,000 signatures and congressional
cosponsors. Second Amendment Foundation prepared amicus briefs for potential
officer litigation affirming qualified immunity. NRA Political Victory Fund
prioritised Arizona incumbents supporting law enforcement in 2026 allocations.
National Association of Chiefs of
Police endorsed hospital security cooperation and inter-agency protocols.
Congressional committee probes announced schedules
House Judiciary Chairman Jim
Jordan requested DHS Inspector General reports on 2024-2026 use-of-force
incidents for comparative analysis. Ranking Member Jerry Nadler tasked minority
staff with staffing shortages and mental health resource studies. Senate
Homeland Security hearing set for February 4 will evaluate complaint mechanisms
requesting unredacted footage.
GAO auditing federal training
expenditures efficacy and standardisation.
Department justice civil rights probe parameters
DOJ Civil Rights Division
examines constitutional deprivations under 18 U.S.C. 242 requesting
surveillance 911 audio autopsy and witness compilations. Memorandum with
Maricopa County Attorney enables evidence sharing with grand jury consideration
in 30 days.
Civil rights groups demand
independent monitor appointments.
Phoenix police hospital security coordination efforts
Chief Michael Sullivan confirmed
monthly narcotics task force operations yielding 28 arrests mostly employee
perpetrators. Maricopa Sheriff's Office increased patrols with uniformed
lobbies and access points. Arizona Hospital Association issued guidelines for
officer escorts in controlled areas.
Federal versus state training programme comparisons
FLETC 680-hour curriculum
includes 80 hours firearms 40 hours tactics and de-escalation modules with
annual ICE refreshers on immigration scenarios. Arizona state programmes
average 600 hours quarterly requalifications private security at 167 hours
minimum.
UK College of Policing provides
18-week training with 2-week firearms for specialists only.
Nurses union grievance procedures responses
Arizona Nurses Association
verified collective bargaining just cause compliance with arbitration demands
prepared. SEIU campaigned for staffing ratios targeting congressional support
with 25 percent membership growth for 2026 leverage. National Nurses United
issued solidarity statements endorsing violence prevention laws.
media reporting patterns community engagements
Media reporting patterns on
recent Arizona security incidents revealed stark partisan divides, with outlets
shaping narratives around community engagements in distinct ways. The Arizona
Republic advocated for balanced coverage, urging journalists to equally address
security challenges faced by law enforcement and the need for robust officer
protections.
In editorials and op-eds, the
paper emphasized contextual reporting that humanizes both victims of unrest and
the frontline responders, drawing from town hall feedback where residents
expressed frustration over one-sided stories that erode trust in police. This
call resonated at community forums in Phoenix suburbs, where moderators cited
Republic pieces to foster dialogue on de-escalation training funded by local
bonds.
Fox News, conversely, zeroed in
on disciplinary context, framing incidents as symptomatic of lax accountability
measures amid rising border tensions. Segments featured retired officers
decrying "soft-on-crime" policies, with chyrons highlighting internal
affairs records of involved personnel. This angle gained traction at grassroots
engagements in Tucson, where conservative-leaning neighborhood watches screened
Fox clips during meetings, sparking debates on federal immigration
enforcement's local ripple effects. Anchors like Sean Hannity amplified
viewer-submitted videos from these gatherings, positioning them as evidence of
community backlash against perceived leniency.
CNN shifted focus by interviewing school and precinct administrators on diversion pressures, exploring how resource strains from migrant surges divert officers from routine patrols. Correspondents delved into budget reallocations, with on-scene reports from Maricopa County forums where officials lamented overcrowded facilities. These pieces underscored systemic overload, prompting community petitions for state aid that circulated widely post-broadcast.