DOJ Initiates Civil Rights Probe into Alex Pretti’s Death in Minneapolis

The shooting, which occurred last Saturday, has prompted two separate investigations. While the Department of Justice is focusing on potential civil rights violations, Customs and Border Protection, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, is conducting its own internal review of the incident. This dual approach aims to ensure a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death.

At the press conference, Blanche addressed questions from reporters regarding the shooting and outlined the department’s commitment to a comprehensive investigation. “You’re talking about an incredibly tragic morning and then trying to unwind and investigate that takes a lot of time,” Blanche stated, emphasizing the complexity and sensitivity of the case.

He further clarified that the Department of Justice’s civil rights investigation is proceeding independently from the internal investigation by Homeland Security, underscoring the seriousness with which both departments are treating the situation.

Blanche confirmed the civil rights investigation was independent from the internal review being conducted by the Department of Homeland Security.

Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, was shot multiple times on Saturday, Jan. 24, as he was filming Border Patrol officers conducting an immigration enforcement operation.

Pretti, 37, was carrying a handgun for which he had a legal permit and videos of the killing appear to show one officer remove the weapon before two others opened fire.

“We’re looking at everything that would shed light on that day and the days and weeks leading up to that day,” Blanche said on Friday. 

A civil rights investigation is a formal process by which a government agency — in this case the FBI — looks into the circumstances surrounding an incident to determine if somebody’s civil rights had been abused. Often, the cases look at whether laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability have been violated. 

When pressed about the chain of custody for some of the evidence related to the shooting, Blanche said he didn’t know if the FBI or DHS had access to the guns from the agents who killed Pretti. He also denied knowing who was in posession of Pretti’s phone, which he was using to record the federal agents when the confrontation began. 

It is also unclear if Minnesotan officials will be involved with the DOJ’s investigation. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have expressed frustration that state officials were being locked out of the investigations into the deaths of Pretti and the earlier death of Renee Good. 

Blanche also declined to confirm if body camera footage from the agents involved in Pretti’s death would be released to the public. 

“It depends,” Blanche said. “That is a decision that would have to be made by the folks leading that investigation.” 

Pretti’s killing especially has led to criticism against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics. 

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Friday that the FBI will lead the Pretti probe and that HSI will support them. Separately, Customs and Border Protection, which is part of DHS, is doing its own internal investigation into the shooting, during which two officers opened fire on Pretti.

President Trump posted on social media that he would be sending Border Czar Tom Homan to manage the ICE operations in Minnesota after the killing, replacing Greg Bovino as the head of the administration’s operation there. The president later posted that he and Gov. Tim Walz had spoken and were on a “similar wavelength” about the future of federal agents in the state.

CNN reported the president was “personally unhappy” with the way his administration was being portrayed, with officials also upset over Secretary Noem’s labeling of Pretti as a “domestic terrorist.” At a White House briefing Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that was not President Trump’s personal position. 

At Friday’s press conference, Blanche sidestepped questions about whether an earlier killing by federal agents, the death of Renee Good on Jan. 7, would also face a civil rights investigation. 

“Cases are handled differently by this department depending on the circumstances,” Blanche said.