The Justice Department has launched an investigation into the shooting death of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti by Border Patrol officers. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the investigation aims to uncover all relevant details surrounding the incident during a media briefing. The Department of Homeland Security announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will take the lead in the federal probe.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned the shift in agency leadership during an interview, emphasizing their commitment to supporting the FBI’s investigation. Additionally, Customs and Border Protection, a part of DHS, is conducting its own internal inquiry into the shooting involving two officers.
Questions remain about the sharing of information between the FBI and Minnesota state investigators, as the latter was excluded from the federal probe. Contrary to initial claims that Alex Pretti had brandished a handgun, video evidence showed he was unarmed and only holding a mobile phone when officers confronted him.
Recent footage of a prior altercation involving Pretti and federal officers raised further scrutiny, with conflicting narratives emerging about the circumstances leading to his tragic death. Attorney Steve Schleicher, representing Pretti’s parents, asserted that the earlier incident did not justify the fatal shooting.
In a social media post, former President Donald Trump referenced the videos of the earlier altercation, suggesting a different portrayal of Pretti’s behavior. The evolving details surrounding the case have sparked debates about the events leading up to the tragic shooting.
