DOJ launches civil rights probe into Minnesota shooting of Alex Pretti

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: The Justice Department launched a federal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident shot dead by Border Patrol officers.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the probe on Friday, January 30, signaling that federal authorities were examining not only the moments surrounding Pretti’s death, but also the broader context leading up to it.

“We’re looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened,” Blanche said during a news conference.

Todd Blanche declined to explain DOJ probe decision

Blanche declined to specify what factors prompted the Justice Department to open the investigation, noting only that the Civil Rights Division did not automatically review every law enforcement shooting.

“There have to be circumstances and facts that warrant an investigation,” he said.

Blanche contrasted the Pretti case with the killing of Renee Good, who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis, saying a similar federal probe was not justified in that instance.

Still, Blanche emphasized that the Pretti shooting had drawn the attention of the White House.

“President Trump has said repeatedly, ‘Of course, this is something we’re going to investigate,’” Blanche stated.

FBI assumes control of federal investigation

In a parallel development, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the FBI would now lead the federal investigation into Pretti’s death, replacing Homeland Security Investigations, which had initially been designated to oversee the case.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem disclosed the change during a Fox News interview Thursday night.

“We are continuing to gather information, and the FBI leading this investigation is important to make sure that we talk about these situations appropriately,” Noem said while speaking to host Sean Hannity.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said that Homeland Security Investigations will provide support to the FBI. Customs and Border Protection, which employs the officers involved, was also conducting an internal review of the shooting.

DHS did not immediately explain why the lead agency was changed. It remained unclear whether federal investigators would share evidence with Minnesota state authorities, who have thus far been excluded from the federal probe.

The shift in investigative leadership comes amid mounting scrutiny over official statements made in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Noem initially claimed that Pretti had brandished a handgun and aggressively approached officers. However, multiple videos later released appeared to contradict that account.

Federal authorities were also reviewing video from an encounter between Pretti and immigration officers 11 days before his death.

The January 13 footage showed Pretti yelling at federal vehicles, spitting, and kicking out the taillight of one government vehicle.

 A brief struggle followed, after which Pretti broke free or was released and ran away. When his back was turned to the camera, what appeared to be a handgun was visible in his waistband.

The videos did not show Pretti attempting to draw the weapon, and it's unclear whether officers noticed it during the encounter.