What we know about the investigations into the Minneapolis shooting death of Alex Pretti

Federal Investigations Underway After Minneapolis Man Killed by Immigration Officers

The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse in Minneapolis, has sparked calls for an independent investigation into the second death at the hands of federal immigration officers since late last year. The incident has heightened tensions in the city as conflicting narratives emerge about what transpired.

The White House confirmed Monday that three federal investigations into the shooting are currently underway. During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are investigating the incident, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection is “conducting their own internal review.”

“As President Trump said yesterday, the administration is reviewing everything with respect to the shooting, and we will let that investigation play out,” Leavitt noted, though she provided few additional details about the scope or timeline of these probes.

Notably, the FBI’s role appears to be limited to processing physical evidence from the scene, including Pretti’s gun, rather than conducting a comprehensive civil rights investigation as might be expected in cases where federal officers kill civilians. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the bureau would be “processing physical evidence” but made no mention of whether agents had collected firearms from the officers involved or what other evidence they were examining.

This approach differs from historical precedent. Gil Kerlikowske, who led Customs and Border Protection during the Obama administration, noted that when he was at the agency, it would be “routine” for the FBI to conduct a criminal civil rights investigation when a Border Patrol agent used deadly force, regardless of whether the force appeared justified.

Kerlikowske also questioned why Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) would lead this investigation, pointing out that HSI traditionally focuses on cross-border issues like drug smuggling and human trafficking. “This isn’t something that HSI has real expertise or does at all,” Kerlikowske said. “Shooting and use of force and potential criminal liability is not something that would be in their portfolio.”

The incident has created tension between state and federal authorities. Drew Evans, superintendent of Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which typically investigates police shootings, told reporters that federal officers had blocked his agency from the scene even after it obtained a signed judicial warrant.

“We will continue to investigate this case and others that we have recently been involved with. But I would be remiss if I didn’t state that it would be difficult to obtain all of the evidence and information obtained without cooperation,” Evans said.

This lack of cooperation prompted Minnesota officials to take legal action. A federal judge has issued an order blocking the Trump administration from “destroying or altering evidence” related to the shooting after state and county officials filed a lawsuit. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison explained the lawsuit aims to preserve evidence collected by federal officials that state authorities haven’t been able to inspect.

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin dismissed the lawsuit as “a ridiculous attempt to divide the American people and distract from the fact that our law enforcement officers were attacked — and their lives were threatened.”

The Trump administration has portrayed Pretti as an armed aggressor, with Border Patrol senior official Greg Bovino claiming Pretti intended to “massacre law enforcement.” However, use-of-force experts have noted that bystander videos contradict federal authorities’ assertion that Pretti “approached” officers with a firearm and that a Border Patrol officer fired “defensively.”

Investigators have access to multiple videos, including footage from at least four Border Patrol agents who were wearing body cameras, according to McLaughlin. These videos have not been released to the public, nor have the identities of the Border Patrol agents involved been disclosed. The officer who shot Pretti is reportedly an eight-year Border Patrol veteran.

Pretti’s family told the Associated Press they have not been contacted by federal law enforcement and have not received any information about the investigation. They also don’t know the whereabouts of Pretti’s phone, which he was reportedly using to record the encounter when he was killed.

This case follows the January 7 shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis. In that case, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated earlier this month that “there is currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation.”

Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz has called for an impartial investigation, which he reportedly discussed in a phone call with President Trump on Monday. The President later indicated they “seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” though he did not specifically mention the investigations.