Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension accuses the FBI of withholding critical evidence regarding the death of Alex Pretti during an immigration protest.
A major jurisdictional dispute has erupted in Minnesota after state officials revealed the Federal Bureau of Investigation is refusing to share information regarding the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti. The intensive care nurse was killed by federal agents on January 24 during a demonstration against aggressive immigration enforcement tactics in Minneapolis.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) publicly criticized the federal agency’s lack of transparency. BCA Superintendent Drew Evans characterized the FBI’s refusal to hand over investigative materials as “concerning and unprecedented.” Despite the roadblock, the state agency affirmed its intention to proceed with its own inquiry.
The BCA is committed to thorough, independent and transparent investigations of these incidents, even if hampered by a lack of access to key information and evidence.
Multiple Shootings Under Review
The BCA noted it would welcome a collaborative joint investigation, a sentiment echoed by Pretti’s grieving relatives. In a statement released to CBS News, the family stressed that true justice and accountability necessitate a thorough, impartial, and unified state and federal review.
The standoff extends beyond the Pretti case. State investigators are also examining the January 7 killing of Renee Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, as well as the injury of a Venezuelan national following a vehicular pursuit on January 14. The BCA expressed uncertainty regarding whether federal authorities will cooperate in these parallel cases. Separately, the Department of Justice initiated a civil rights probe into Pretti’s death last month.
Aftermath of the Surge
The violence occurred against the backdrop of “Operation Metro Surge,” a highly controversial immigration crackdown directed by the Trump administration. The initiative sparked widespread national demonstrations against ICE’s methods and the administration’s broader border policies.
Last Thursday, White House border tsar Tom Homan announced a scaling back of the Minnesota operation, claiming federal agents had successfully arrested over 4,000 undocumented immigrants, including individuals convicted of severe crimes. However, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the federal intervention, stating it inflicted “deep damage, generational trauma” on the state and left behind numerous unresolved questions.
SOURCES: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, CBS News, Office of the Governor of Minnesota, White House Statements.
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