New Actor: DOJ Opens Civil Rights Probe Into Pretti Shooting

The Justice Department opened a federal civil rights investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The FBI is now leading the case, with Homeland Security Investigations in a support role. The shift replaces Homeland Security’s earlier plan to run the inquiry itself.

Customs and Border Protection is conducting an internal review, and the two Border Patrol agents who fired their guns are on administrative leave. It remains unresolved whether federal investigators will share evidence with Minnesota state authorities, who have been frozen out of the federal probe so far. There was no commitment to release body‑camera footage, and the whereabouts of Pretti’s phone and gun remained unknown.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem disclosed the handoff to the FBI and walked back earlier claims that Pretti had brandished a handgun and advanced on officers, describing those statements as based on chaotic early reports.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources