Relatives said Pretti was socially engaged and cared deeply about environmental and human rights issues. They noted that he sometimes attended public demonstrations to express his views and believed strongly in peaceful civic engagement. His parents described him as thoughtful and driven by empathy.

The incident followed another fatal encounter weeks earlier during a federal operation in Minneapolis, involving Renee Nicole Good. Together, the two cases have prompted vigils, public debate, and renewed calls for transparency and accountability as investigations continue.