DOJ Opens Civil Rights Probe Into Alex Pretti Shooting in Minneapolis
The Justice Department opened a federal civil rights investigation into the Jan. 24 shooting of Alex Pretti and said the FBI will lead the probe.
Overview
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday that the Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and that the FBI will lead the probe.
The investigation comes amid a Trump administration surge of immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities and follows the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, fueling daily protests and a nationwide “no work, no school, no shopping” strike, organizers said.
Todd Blanche said investigators will review video, interview witnesses and examine ballistics and forensics and that the Civil Rights Division would join the probe if the facts warrant, but he gave no timetable or commitment to release body-camera footage.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection said on Thursday that two officers who fired their weapons in the Jan. 24 encounter have been placed on administrative leave, and federal officials have excluded Minnesota investigators from the reviews, records show.
The FBI will lead the federal inquiry with support from the Justice Department Civil Rights Division and Homeland Security Investigations, and state authorities have not ruled out pursuing their own charges after separate reviews, officials confirmed.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the story neutrally, focusing on procedural facts and official statements rather than advocacy. They quote Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on the DOJ probe, include the family's attorney calling it a 'murder' (source content), note excluded state investigators and a pending lawsuit—balancing factual context without loaded editorializing.
Sources (20)
FAQ
Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old American intensive care nurse for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. He was observing and attempting to direct traffic across the street from a doughnut shop while federal agents pursued someone inside.
The Justice Department opened a federal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026, with the FBI leading the probe and potential involvement from the Civil Rights Division if warranted.[4]
Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents fired their weapons at Pretti after he was pepper-sprayed and pinned to the ground; a firearm was recovered from him, and he had a lawful permit to carry it.[1]
The shooting occurred amid a Trump administration surge in immigration enforcement, Operation Metro Surge, following the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, sparking protests and strikes.
The two CBP agents who fired were placed on administrative leave; the FBI leads the federal probe, excluding Minnesota investigators, who may pursue their own charges; no timetable for body-camera footage release.
History
6 sources
3 sources
3 sources