The Department of Justice has begun a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting death of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse who was killed by Border Patrol agents on Saturday at Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street, according to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The probe, which the FBI will lead, was confirmed Friday (January 30) as calls for accountability continue across Minnesota and beyond.

During a news conference, Blanche emphasized that the involvement of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is not automatic in all law enforcement shootings. He noted, “Cases are handled differently by this department, depending on the circumstances,” and described the Pretti investigation as standard for incidents with such complexities. Blanche also clarified that a similar inquiry was not being opened for the January 7 shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis, saying not every federal law enforcement shooting meets the criteria for a civil rights probe. President Donald Trump has affirmed the need for a thorough investigation.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially led the investigation, but Secretary Kristi Noem announced Thursday that the FBI would now take charge, with DHS and Customs and Border Protection conducting their own internal reviews.

Local authorities, specifically the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, have been excluded from the federal investigation, mirroring their lack of access to the probe into the earlier Good shooting. This has limited state prosecutors’ ability to review evidence or consider charges.

Multiple videos of the shooting and an earlier altercation between Pretti and federal officers have surfaced. The most recent footage shows Pretti holding only a mobile phone as officers tackled him, while another officer removed a handgun from his waistband before shots were fired into his back. Pretti, who had a legal permit for concealed carry, did not appear to reach for his weapon at any time. The incident has drawn national attention and prompted debate after initial statements from Noem suggesting Pretti had brandished a firearm were contradicted by the videos.

A separate video from January 13 shows Pretti in a confrontation with immigration officers, during which a handgun is visible but not drawn. Legal representatives for Pretti’s family maintain that this prior incident in no way justified the fatal force used days later.

Both Border Patrol officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Blanche would not confirm whether their names or body camera footage would be released.

As the FBI’s civil rights probe moves forward, it remains unclear whether federal investigators will collaborate with state officials or when the findings will be made public.

Armstrong & Getty