The Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents, as announced by the US deputy attorney general. Todd Blanche emphasized that this is a standard investigative procedure by the FBI in similar cases.
The investigation will be led by the FBI with assistance from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, following the shooting incident in Minneapolis that caused considerable unrest. Pretti's tragic death occurred shortly after another incident involving federal officers shooting Renee Good in the same area.
Blanche stated during a news conference, We're looking at everything that would shed light on that day. Two agents involved in the incident have since been placed on administrative leave by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as reports indicate that weapons were fired during an altercation.
Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and US citizen, was reportedly engaged in protests condemning federal actions immediately preceding his death. The public outcry has prompted persistent calls from officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, to withdraw federal agents entirely from the capital region, alongside requests for legal injunctions against the DHS's immigration enforcement operations.
Universally, both state and federal reactions have highlighted an urgent need for accountability and resulted in raised concerns regarding the deployment and conduct of federal agents in urban settings.
