Minneapolis, Minnesota — A senior Minnesota public safety official said the state has been blocked from investigating the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man by federal agents, calling the situation “uncharted territory” as tensions between state and federal authorities continue to escalate.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Superintendent Drew Evans said Saturday that his agency was denied access to the scene where 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and intensive care nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti was shot and killed during a federal immigration operation led by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Evans said DHS assumed control of the investigation, preventing the BCA from performing its customary role in officer-involved shooting cases.
Evans explained that after the FBI initially left the scene, BCA agents attempted to begin a state investigation but were unable to secure the area. He said the scene was later overrun by protesters, making further examination impossible. Even after state investigators obtained a signed search warrant, Evans said DHS refused to allow physical access to the scene.
According to Evans, state agencies typically handle the majority of officer-involved shooting investigations nationwide, including those involving federal agents. He warned that the lack of cooperation undermines public confidence and leaves citizens unclear about how accountability will be ensured.
Pretti’s killing follows the earlier fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer earlier this month, a case in which state and local authorities were also prevented from participating in the investigation. Evans said Minnesota officials are seeking a path forward to restore cooperation and avoid further conflict between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
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