A US federal judge has issued an emergency order mandating the preservation of all evidence linked to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident by federal immigration officers. The order comes in response to a lawsuit filed by Minnesota state and local agencies. Judge Eric C. Tostrud of the US District Court for the District of Minnesota granted the temporary restraining order after 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti was shot and killed during an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis.
The order prohibits defendants, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), from tampering with or destroying evidence. However, an immediate transfer of materials to state investigators is not mandated. The lawsuit was initiated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, with a hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon.
BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, in court documents, mentioned that federal agents from the DHS obstructed state investigators from accessing the scene. Despite obtaining a search warrant, federal agents continued to deny access to the site. This unprecedented situation has raised concerns among state officials and law enforcement agencies.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison expressed the gravity of the situation, stating that such actions have not been witnessed before. Governor Tim Walz criticized the handling of the crime scene, emphasizing the need for transparency and adherence to the law. The incident has sparked conflicting narratives between federal authorities and local witnesses, with video evidence playing a crucial role in the ongoing investigation.
