Minnesota law enforcement officials have publicly denounced the Federal Bureau of Investigation for refusing to cooperate with the state’s probe into the deadly shooting of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti. The 37-year-old medical professional was fatally shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement protest in Minneapolis on January 24.
The state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) reported that the FBI has declined to share any evidence or information from its parallel investigation into the incident. BCA Superintendent Drew Evans characterized the federal agency’s stance as “concerning and unprecedented” in its lack of transparency.
Minnesota authorities have formally proposed a joint investigation to ensure comprehensive oversight, emphasizing their commitment to “thorough, independent and transparent investigations” despite facing significant obstacles due to the FBI’s withholding of crucial evidence. The victim’s family has echoed this request through their legal representatives, stating that “justice and accountability requires a thorough and impartial investigation to establish the facts.”
This confrontation emerges against the backdrop of Operation Metro Surge, an immigration crackdown initiated by the Trump administration that has sparked widespread demonstrations across Minnesota. The operation resulted in over 4,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants, including individuals convicted of serious sexual offenses, according to White House border advisor Tom Homan.
The political dimension has intensified with Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz condemning the federal operation for inflicting “deep damage, generational trauma… and many unanswered questions” upon the state. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has launched a separate civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death.
The BCA is concurrently investigating two additional shooting incidents involving federal immigration agents—the fatal shooting of Renee Good on January 7 and the injury of a Venezuelan national following a vehicle pursuit one week later. The agency notes that cooperation regarding these cases remains equally uncertain.