Three federal investigations underway, but key details remain unclear
The fatal shooting over the weekend in Minneapolis of Alex Pretti, 37, has prompted calls for a thorough independent investigation, especially as tensions have risen in the city. Federal officials have said multiple probes are under way, but many investigation details—such as the identities of the officers involved and what evidence federal investigators are reviewing—remain unclear.
During a briefing Monday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI were investigating the shooting, and that U.S. Customs and Border Protection was “conducting their own internal review.” Leavitt added that, as President Donald Trump said, the administration is reviewing everything with respect to the shooting and would let the investigation play out.
FBI assistance centered on physical evidence
The FBI, which normally would play a key role in cases involving a federal law enforcement officer killing a civilian, is instead described as providing support for processing physical evidence. The AP reported that the FBI’s role includes handling items such as Pretti’s gun.
In a related description, the AP noted that historically the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department investigates shootings of civilians by law enforcement officers for potential criminal violations, but that there was no indication that such an investigation was intended in Pretti’s case. The article cited comments by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in the Jan. 7 Minneapolis case involving Renee Good, saying there was “currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation.”
Gil Kerlikowske, who previously headed Customs and Border Protection during the Obama administration, said that in his experience, if a Border Patrol agent used deadly force, it would be “routine” for the FBI to conduct a criminal civil rights investigation. He also questioned why Homeland Security Investigations, a component within DHS, would lead the investigation, saying it would not have real expertise in shootings and use of force.
Questions about the firearm, phone and videos
On Fox News, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau would be assisting HSI by processing physical evidence. Patel said the FBI is in possession of “the firearm, which is going to go to our laboratory,” referring to Pretti’s gun.
The AP reported that Patel did not specify whether the FBI had gathered firearms from the officers or agents who were on the scene, or what other evidence the bureau was processing. Meanwhile, DHS officials did not respond to questions Monday about whether they possess Pretti’s phone or whether they have recovered the video he was recording when he was killed.
Pretti’s family told The Associated Press they do not have the phone and do not know where it is. Pretti’s father, Michael Pretti, said Monday the family had still not been contacted by, or provided information by, federal law enforcement.
Investigators also have an extensive array of videos to review, including multiple videos shot by activists and protesters at the scene. The AP reported that use-of-force experts said bystander video undermined federal authorities’ claim that Pretti approached a group of lawmen with a firearm and that a Border Patrol officer opened fire “defensively.”
Evidence on body cameras and lack of released identities
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said investigators have video from at least four Border Patrol agents on the scene, and that those agents were wearing body cameras. She said those videos have not been made public, and that neither the identities of the Border Patrol agents involved nor the shooter’s name were made public.
The AP reported that federal officials said Saturday the officer who shot Pretti was an eight-year Border Patrol veteran.
Minnesota says it was shut out; judge blocks evidence destruction
The incident has highlighted mistrust between Minnesota state officials and the Trump administration over who should lead the investigation. Drew Evans, superintendent of Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told reporters Saturday that federal officers blocked his agency from the scene even after the BCA had obtained a signed judicial warrant. Evans said it would be difficult to obtain all evidence and information without cooperation.
A federal judge issued an order blocking the Trump administration from “destroying or altering evidence” related to the shooting after state and county officials sued. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the lawsuit filed Saturday was meant to preserve evidence collected by federal officials that state authorities have not yet been able to inspect.
Tricia McLaughlin dismissed the lawsuit, saying claims that the federal government would destroy evidence are “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.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he called for an impartial investigation during a phone call with Trump Monday. The AP reported that Trump said in an earlier social media post after their call that he and Walz “seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” though he did not mention the investigations. Leavitt later said Trump supports the probes that are under way.