The Federal Bureau of Investigation has officially assumed leadership of the inquiry into the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti by Border Patrol officers, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security released on Friday. This significant development follows days of mounting public scrutiny and the emergence of multiple video recordings that have challenged initial official accounts of the incident.
Federal Investigation Transferred to FBI
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem first revealed the transfer of investigative authority during a Thursday evening interview on Fox News. Her department had previously indicated earlier this week that Homeland Security Investigations, an internal DHS unit, would be heading the examination into Saturday's shooting.
"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," Noem stated during her conversation with host Sean Hannity. "Our priority remains ensuring the American people know the truth of the situation and understanding how we can move forward while continuing to protect public safety."
Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin formally confirmed the FBI's lead role on Friday, noting that HSI would provide supporting assistance to the federal law enforcement agency. Separately, Customs and Border Protection, another component of DHS, continues to conduct its own internal administrative review of the incident during which two officers discharged their firearms at Pretti.
Questions Remain About Investigation Parameters
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet provided clarification regarding the precise timing of this investigative transition or the specific rationale behind the decision. Similarly, the FBI has not responded to immediate requests for comment about their newly assumed responsibilities in this high-profile case.
It remains uncertain whether the FBI will now begin sharing information and evidence with Minnesota state investigators, who have reportedly been excluded from the federal inquiry up to this point. This lack of coordination between federal and state authorities has raised questions about transparency and investigative thoroughness.
Contradictory Evidence and Revised Statements
Secretary Noem appeared to distance herself during the Fox News interview from her initial statements following the shooting, in which she claimed Pretti had brandished a handgun and aggressively approached officers. Multiple videos that have surfaced publicly directly contradict this characterization, showing instead that the intensive care nurse held only his mobile phone as officers forced him to the ground.
The footage reveals one officer removing a handgun from the back of Pretti's pants while another officer simultaneously began firing shots into his back. Records indicate Pretti possessed a valid state permit for legally carrying a concealed firearm, and at no point in the videos does he appear to reach for the weapon.
"I recognize that situation was extremely chaotic, and we were receiving information relayed from CBP agents and officers on the ground," Noem explained to Hannity. "We were utilizing the best information available at that moment, striving to maintain transparency with the American public by sharing what we understood to be accurate based on ground reports."
Earlier Altercation Footage Emerges
The investigative transfer follows the Wednesday release of two additional videos depicting an earlier confrontation between Pretti and federal immigration officers that occurred eleven days before his death. The January 13 recordings show Pretti wearing a winter coat while shouting at federal vehicles, appearing to spit at one point, and ultimately kicking out the taillight of a government vehicle.
A physical struggle ensues between Pretti and several officers, resulting in him being forced to the ground. During this altercation, Pretti's winter coat becomes dislodged, and he either breaks free or is released by officers before scurrying away. As he turns his back to the camera, what appears to be a handgun becomes visible in his waistband, though the footage does not show him reaching for the weapon, nor is it clear whether federal agents observed it.
Steve Schleicher, a Minneapolis-based attorney representing Pretti's parents, emphasized on Wednesday that the earlier confrontation in no way justified officers fatally shooting Pretti more than a week later. This legal perspective highlights the contentious nature of the use-of-force decision that federal investigators must now examine.
Political Reactions and Characterizations
In a post on his Truth Social platform early Friday morning, former President Donald Trump suggested the newly released videos undermined the narrative that Pretti was a peaceful individual when he was 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 wrote.
The former president continued: "He then crazily kicked in a new and very expensive government vehicle, so hard and violent, in fact, that the taillight broke off in pieces. It was quite a display of abuse and anger, for all to see, crazed and out of control. The ICE Officer was calm and cool, not an easy thing to be under those circumstances!"
This characterization from a leading political figure introduces a distinctly partisan dimension to an already complex investigation, potentially influencing public perception as federal authorities proceed with their examination. The FBI's assumption of investigative leadership now places the bureau at the center of both a law enforcement inquiry and a politically charged national conversation about immigration enforcement, use of force, and accountability.
