Federal Civil Rights Investigation Launched into Border Patrol Shooting of Minnesota Nurse
The Department of Justice has formally opened a federal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse from Minnesota. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the launch of the probe on Friday, stating that federal authorities will examine all aspects of the incident that occurred last Saturday.
FBI Takes Over Lead Role in Pretti Investigation
In a significant development, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation will now lead the federal investigation into Pretti's death. Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the shift on Friday, noting that Homeland Security Investigations will provide support to the FBI-led inquiry.
"We're looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened," Blanche stated during a Friday briefing. "That's like any investigation that the Department of Justice and the FBI does every day. It means we're looking at video, talking to witnesses, trying to understand what happened."
The Deputy Attorney General emphasized that while thousands of law enforcement shootings occur annually, federal investigations are reserved for cases with specific circumstances warranting federal scrutiny. "There has to be circumstances or facts or maybe unknown facts, but certainly circumstances, that warrant an investigation," he added.
Contradictory Evidence and Changing Narratives
The investigation follows the emergence of multiple videos that contradict initial claims made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shortly after the shooting. Noem had previously stated that Pretti brandished a handgun and aggressively approached officers, but video evidence shows the nurse holding only a mobile phone when officers tackled him to the ground.
Footage reveals that one officer removed a handgun from the back of Pretti's pants while another officer fired shots into his back. Pretti held a valid state permit for concealed carry, and videos show he never reached for the firearm during the encounter.
During a Thursday evening interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Noem appeared to distance herself from her earlier statements. "I know you realize that situation was very chaotic, and that we were being relayed information from on the ground from CBP agents and officers that were there," Noem explained. "We were using the best information we had at the time, seeking to be transparent with the American people and get them what we knew to be true on the ground."
Earlier Altercation Footage Emerges
Further complicating the investigation, two additional videos surfaced on Wednesday showing an altercation between Pretti and federal immigration officers eleven days before his death. The January 13 footage depicts Pretti in a winter coat yelling at federal vehicles, appearing to spit, and kicking out a vehicle's taillight before a struggle ensues with several officers.
During this earlier incident, what appears to be a handgun becomes visible in Pretti's waistband when his coat comes off, though the videos show no indication that he reached for the weapon. It remains unclear whether federal agents observed the firearm during this confrontation.
Steve Schleicher, a Minneapolis attorney representing Pretti's parents, asserted that the earlier altercation did not justify the fatal shooting more than a week later. Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection continues its own internal investigation into the shooting, during which two officers opened fire on Pretti.
Political Reactions and Investigation Status
Former President Donald Trump commented on the newly released footage via his Truth Social platform early Friday morning, suggesting the videos undermined the narrative that Pretti was a peaceful protester when shot. "Agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist, Alex Pretti's stock has gone way down with the just released video of him screaming and spitting in the face of a very calm and under control ICE Officer," Trump's post stated.
The Department of Homeland Security has not provided immediate clarification regarding when or why the investigative leadership changed from Homeland Security Investigations to the FBI. Additionally, the FBI has not responded to requests for comment, and it remains uncertain whether federal investigators will now share information with Minnesota state authorities who have been excluded from the federal probe thus far.
Noem emphasized the department's commitment to the investigation during her Fox News appearance, stating, "We will continue to follow the investigation that the FBI is leading and giving them all the information that they need to bring that to conclusion, and make sure that the American people know the truth of the situation and how we can go forward and continue to protect the American people."
