The Justice Department has commenced a federal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident who was killed last Saturday by Border Patrol officers, according to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Blanche emphasized that the department is examining every aspect that might illuminate the circumstances of the shooting and events preceding it.
While Blanche did not specify the exact reasons prompting the Department of Justice's decision to investigate, he contrasted this case with the January 7 death of Renee Good, who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in the same city, in which a comparable investigation was deemed unnecessary. He clarified that the Civil Rights Division does not pursue inquiries into every law enforcement shooting, only those with sufficient grounds based on facts and context.
Blanche referenced comments made by former President Donald Trump, noting, "President Trump has said repeatedly, 'Of course, this is something we're going to investigate,'" in relation to Pretti's death. Steve Schleicher, legal counsel for Pretti's family based in Minneapolis, expressed that the family prioritizes a thorough and unbiased examination of the facts related to what he called "his murder."
In a significant development, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will now lead the federal investigation into the shooting incident. This transition was initially revealed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during an interview on Fox News the previous evening. Prior announcements had indicated that Homeland Security Investigations, a component within DHS, would oversee the inquiry.
Secretary Noem assured that DHS will fully support the FBI by providing all necessary information to conclude the case transparently, ensuring the public receives an accurate account of the events and measures moving forward to protect citizens. A DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed that Homeland Security Investigations will continue to assist the FBI throughout the investigative process.
Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a division under DHS, is conducting its own separate internal review concerning the incident in which two officers fired upon Pretti. At the time of reporting, DHS did not clarify the timing or rationale for transferring primary investigative responsibility to the FBI. The FBI did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the change.
It remains unclear whether the FBI will collaborate with Minnesota state authorities, who currently have limited access to federal findings and evidence in the case.
During her Fox News appearance, Secretary Noem appeared to retract earlier assertions made shortly after the shooting claiming that Pretti had aggressively approached officers while brandishing a firearm. This contrasts with multiple videos recently obtained that depict Pretti, who was an intensive care nurse, holding only a mobile phone as officers subdued him. Footage shows one officer removing a handgun from the back of Pretti's waistband just as another officer fired shots that struck his back.
Notably, Pretti possessed a valid Minnesota permit to carry a concealed firearm and did not appear to reach for the weapon during the encounter, as captured on video.
The investigative shift follows the emergence of additional video footage that surfaced on January 13, depicting a confrontation between Pretti and federal immigration agents eleven days before his death. These clips show Pretti vocally confronting federal vehicles, at one point apparently spitting and striking the taillight of an official vehicle, causing it to break off.
The situation escalated into a physical altercation, with Pretti forced to the ground by multiple agents. His outer coat was removed during the struggle, and he either broke free or was released, subsequently fleeing the scene. When his back is shown to the camera, a firearm is visible tucked into his waistband. The videos do not show Pretti reaching towards the gun during the incident, and it is unclear if officers observed the weapon at that time.
Schleicher, representing the Pretti family, has asserted that this prior incident does not justify the lethal force used over a week later.
In the early hours of Friday, former President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform suggesting the latest videos diminish the portrayal of Pretti as a peaceful protester at the time of the fatal shooting. Trump described Pretti as an "agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist," citing his aggressive conduct and damage to government property alongside calm and controlled behavior by the ICE officer involved.