Federal civil rights investigation into the murder of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents has begun

The Justice Department launches a federal civil rights inquiry into the Minneapolis Border Patrol officers’ murder of Alex Pretti.

The US Justice Department has initiated a federal civil rights inquiry into the shooting of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis citizen shot by Border Patrol officers, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Blanche says the probe will examine events surrounding the incident, as well as measures made in the days and weeks preceding. He notes that the Civil Rights Division only steps in when circumstances call for investigation and does not look into every law enforcement shooting, but he does not say what sparked the investigation.

According to Blanche, President Donald Trump has stated on multiple occasions that the government will look into Pretti’s passing. He adds that a similar federal review will not be started into the January 7 shooting of Renee Good, who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.

Steve Schleicher, an attorney for Pretti’s parents, says the family is focused on achieving a thorough and unbiased investigation that completely analyzes the circumstances surrounding their son’s killing.

Separately, the Department of Homeland Security says that the FBI will now head the federal inquiry into Pretti’s death. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announces the reversal during an interview, after her government had claimed Homeland Security Investigations would supervise the case.

According to Noem, DHS will work closely with the FBI to make sure the public is informed about what actually occurred. A DHS spokeswoman confirms that Homeland Security Investigations will support the FBI, while Customs and Border Protection conducts its own internal probe of the shooting involving two agents.

Authorities do not immediately explain why the lead agency changed, and it remains unknown whether the FBI would share information with Minnesota state investigators, who have so far been excluded from the federal inquiry.

In an interview, Noem appears to move back from earlier assertions that Pretti had aggressively attacked officers while flashing a weapon. Video evidence released following the incident contradicts that narrative, showing Pretti holding only a cell phone as officers restrain him. While another police fires several shots into Pretti’s back, another takes a weapon from his waistband.

Pretti, a critical care nurse, has a valid state authorization to carry a concealed firearm. Video evidence proves he does not reach for the weapon.

Additional examination follows the publication of tapes from an incident between Pretti and federal immigration authorities 11 days before his murder. The clip shows Pretti shouting at officers, spitting, and damaging a government vehicle before being handcuffed and later fleeing. A revolver appears visible in his waistband, however he does not grab for it and it is unclear whether authorities noticed it.

Schleicher thinks the initial event does not justify the later shooting.

President Trump says on Truth Social that the newly disclosed footage undermines representations of Pretti as a peaceful figure, portraying him as confrontational and complimenting the conduct of the ICE officer engaged in the prior incident.