Justice Department Opens Civil Rights Investigation Into Fatal Border Patrol Shooting of Minneapolis Resident Alex Pretti
The Justice Department has formally launched a federal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and intensive care nurse killed Saturday by Border Patrol officers. Federal officials confirmed the inquiry on Friday, signaling a significant shift in the federal response to the incident, which occurred during “Operation Metro Surge,” a heightened immigration enforcement initiative currently active in the Twin Cities.
The shooting took place near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, where Pretti was observing federal agents conducting operations. According to initial reports and bystander video, a physical struggle ensued after Pretti attempted to check on a woman being detained by agents. While Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials stated that Pretti was armed and that agents shouted “He’s got a gun” before opening fire, witnesses and legal representatives for the Pretti family contend that he possessed a valid concealed carry permit and did not brandish the weapon or pose an immediate lethal threat to the officers.
The opening of this investigation comes amid escalating tensions between Minnesota state authorities and federal agencies. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension previously reported being denied access to evidence and the crime scene by federal officials, a move that complicated local oversight efforts and drew sharp criticism from state leaders. Pretti’s death marks the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis this month, following the January 7 death of Renee Good, an event that had already sparked widespread local protests and demands for greater transparency regarding federal rules of engagement.
Department of Homeland Security officials have staunchly defended the agents’ actions, characterizing Pretti as an instigator and citing the presence of a firearm as a critical threat factor in a volatile situation. Conversely, civil liberties advocates argue that Pretti was exercising his First Amendment rights to observe law enforcement and his Second Amendment right to carry a weapon. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will now independently assess whether the use of deadly force violated federal law, specifically examining if the agents’ conduct willfully deprived Pretti of his constitutional rights. This federal probe will run parallel to internal reviews currently being conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.
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