Minnesota prosecutors have obtained previously withheld evidence regarding the fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, two individuals killed by federal immigration agents earlier this year during protests against a federal immigration crackdown. The Hennepin County Attorney, Mary Moriarty, announced in a video statement on social media that hard drives containing the evidence were secured through cooperation with federal partners.
Details of the Evidence
The newly obtained evidence includes Good's car, statements, police body-camera video, and other materials that federal officials had previously withheld. Moriarty emphasized the importance of this development, stating, "Our democracy requires it. After receiving this evidence, we immediately began to analyze it in the context of the evidence we already had in hand. This analysis is ongoing."
The Shootings
Renée Good, an unarmed US citizen and mother, was fatally shot on January 7 in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent while sitting in her car. Incident reports and a private autopsy show she suffered three gunshot wounds, including one to her head. Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse, was shot dead on January 24 by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials while observing immigration officers. Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national, was also shot during the crackdown.
Family and Legal Responses
Steve Schleicher, attorney for the Pretti family, expressed initial encouragement but later criticized US Attorney Daniel Rosen for refusing to confirm a cooperation agreement between state and federal agencies. "No family should be required to beg federal authorities to do their job," Schleicher said. The US Attorney's office and Hennepin County Attorney's office did not immediately comment.
Background
Earlier this year, Minnesota authorities reported that the FBI was refusing to share evidence from its investigation. Governor Tim Walz demanded an impartial investigation. The federal officer who shot Sosa-Celis was charged in May with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.
