The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially launched a federal civil rights investigation into the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse who was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. This move marks a significant shift in how the government is handling the case, as officials initially claimed that a civil rights probe was not necessary.
The announcement was made by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who confirmed that the FBI will now lead the investigation. This is a change from earlier in the week when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said its own internal unit would be in charge. The decision to involve the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division suggests a deeper look into whether federal agents violated the law or used excessive force during the encounter.
Alex Pretti was an intensive care nurse at a local veterans’ hospital. On the day he was killed, he was participating in a protest against aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. According to witnesses and video evidence, the situation turned violent when federal agents began interacting with protesters.
Initial reports from government officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, painted Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” and an “assassin.” They claimed he had aggressively approached officers while brandishing a handgun. However, as multiple bystander videos emerged, that narrative began to crumble. The footage shows Pretti holding only a mobile phone as he was tackled to the ground by several agents. While he did have a handgun in his waistband—for which he had a legal permit—the videos show that an agent removed the weapon from his person before other officers fired multiple shots into his back while he was pinned down.
The discrepancy between the official account and the video evidence sparked national outrage and calls for transparency. Even some members of the president’s own party joined in the demand for an independent investigation. In response, Secretary Noem recently admitted that some of her earlier statements might have been based on inaccurate information provided by agents on the ground.
While the DOJ’s decision to investigate is seen as a step toward accountability, Deputy Attorney General Blanche described it as a “standard” procedure for shootings involving law enforcement. He noted that the department does not investigate every such incident but felt that the circumstances in this case warranted a closer look.
The investigation will also likely examine an earlier scuffle between Pretti and federal agents that occurred eleven days before his death. In that incident, captured on video, Pretti was seen shouting at federal vehicles and kicking a taillight. While the administration has used this previous behavior to characterize him as an “agitator,” attorneys for the Pretti family argue that a past minor confrontation does not justify his being killed while unarmed and restrained.
Currently, the two agents who fired the shots have been placed on administrative leave and moved out of the Minneapolis area for their safety. Meanwhile, the Pretti family, represented by the legal team that prosecuted the George Floyd case, is calling for a fair and impartial review of the facts. They hope this federal probe will finally provide the truth about what happened on that Saturday morning and ensure justice for a man they describe as a compassionate caregiver who died trying to protect others.
