Minnesota Sues After ICE Blocks Investigation Into Alex Pretti Killing
Minnesota authorities filed a lawsuit after state and local investigators were denied access to the crime scene where Alex Pretti was shot and killed by ICE , even with a court‑issued warrant. The suit seeks to protect evidence and ensure a transparent investigation.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) began a joint investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti, 37, who was shot by federal agents Saturday morning in Minneapolis.
“Federal agents are not above the law and Alex Pretti is certainly not beneath it,” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in a Jan. 24 news release.
The local agencies obtained a search warrant that afternoon to allow the BCA to access the crime scene and process evidence but were physically denied access to the site by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
“The collection and preservation of evidence is, again, absolutely critical. I want you to know that I will not rest, my team will not rest, until we have done everything in our power, everything within our authority, to achieve transparency and accountability,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said.
Saturday evening, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and BCA.
The lawsuit seeks to prevent the destruction or alteration of evidence related to Pretti’s death and includes a motion for a temporary restraining order preventing ICE, the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection from destroying any evidence related to the shooting.
“Our office has jurisdiction to review this matter for potential criminal conduct by the federal agents involved and we will do so,” Moriarty said. “This collaborative lawsuit is just one of the many actions our office is taking to ensure that a thorough and transparent investigation can be completed at the state level.”
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has opened an online portal where residents can submit photo and video evidence.