However, many specifics regarding the investigation, such as the identities of the involved officers and the exact evidence being examined, are still unclear as tensions rise in Minneapolis following the death of Alex Pretti, 37, an ICU nurse.
Any probe into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is likely to face intense scrutiny. The Trump administration has quickly portrayed Pretti as an armed aggressor, but emerging videos from the scene and statements from local officials contradict this narrative.
Here’s what is known about the investigation into the shooting and the gaps in information:
The White House has confirmed that three federal investigations into the shooting are currently in progress.
During a briefing on Monday (January 26), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are examining the shooting, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection is conducting its own internal review.
“As President (Donald) Trump stated yesterday, the administration is thoroughly reviewing all aspects related to the shooting, and we will allow the investigation to proceed,” Leavitt said, providing no further details about the investigations.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, typically pivotal in cases where federal law enforcement officers kill civilians, is currently limited to assisting in processing physical evidence from the scene, including Pretti’s firearm.
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Usually, the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department investigates civilian shootings by law enforcement for potential criminal violations, but there is no indication that they plan to do so in Pretti’s case.
In the case of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis on January 7, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche noted earlier this month that “there is currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation.”
Gil Kerlikowske, who led Customs and Border Protection under the Obama administration, remarked that during his tenure, it was “routine” for the FBI to conduct a criminal civil rights investigation if a Border Patrol agent used deadly force, even in justifiable cases where such probes did not necessarily lead to prosecution.
Kerlikowske also expressed concern about why Homeland Security Investigations, an arm of the DHS focused on cross-border issues like drug smuggling and human trafficking, would take the forefront in this inquiry.
“This isn’t an area where HSI has substantial expertise or experience,” Kerlikowske stated. “Investigations into shootings, use of force, and potential criminal liability are outside their traditional portfolio.”
FBI Director Kash Patel stated on Fox News Sunday (January 25) that the agency will support HSI by processing physical evidence.
Patel mentioned they have “the firearm, which will be sent to our laboratory,” in reference to Pretti’s gun.
However, Patel did not indicate whether the bureau had collected the firearms of the officers or agents present or what other evidence the FBI was reviewing.
DHS officials did not answer inquiries on Monday (January 26) regarding whether they possess Pretti’s phone or have retrieved the video he was recording at the time of his death.
Pretti’s family told The Associated Press they neither have the phone nor know its whereabouts. His father, Michael Pretti, stated on Monday (January 26) that the family has yet to be contacted or briefed by federal law enforcement.
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Investigators also have numerous videos to analyze, including multiple recordings from activists and protesters at the scene.
Use-of-force experts noted that bystander footage contradicts federal claims that Pretti “approached” law enforcement officers armed, with a Border Patrol officer firing “defensively.” They expressed that there is no public evidence supporting senior Border Patrol official Greg Bovino’s assertion that Pretti, a concealed carry permit holder, intended to “massacre law enforcement.”
Investigators have access to video from at least four Border Patrol agents on site, all equipped with body cameras, as stated by DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. These videos have not been released to the public.
Neither have the names of the involved Border Patrol agents been disclosed. Federal officials reported on Saturday (January 24) that the officer who shot Pretti is an eight-year veteran of the Border Patrol.
The incident has highlighted the growing mistrust between state officials and the Trump administration regarding the proper authority for leading the investigation.
Drew Evans, superintendent of Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which investigates police shootings, informed reporters on Saturday that federal officers had barred his agency from accessing the crime scene, even after it secured a signed judicial warrant.
“We will continue to pursue this case and others we have been involved with recently. However, I must emphasize that obtaining all the evidence and information without cooperation can be challenging,” Evans remarked on Saturday.
A federal judge has already issued an order prohibiting the Trump administration from “destroying or altering evidence” related to the shooting, following a lawsuit from state and county officials.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated that the lawsuit filed on Saturday aims to preserve evidence collected by federal officials that state authorities have not been able to review.
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McLaughlin dismissed the lawsuit, characterizing claims that the federal government would destroy evidence as “a ludicrous attempt to sow division among the American populace and distract from the fact that our law enforcement officers faced an attack — and their lives were at risk.”
Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz indicated that he requested an impartial investigation in a phone conversation with Trump on Monday.
Trump, in an earlier social media post following their discussion, mentioned that he and Walz “seemed to be on the same page,” though he did not address the investigations. Later, Leavitt affirmed that Trump backs the ongoing probes.
