Executive Summary
- The FBI has taken over the investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti from Homeland Security Investigations.
- President Trump labeled Pretti an “insurrectionist” based on video of an altercation 11 days prior to the shooting.
- Video evidence from the shooting shows Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, when tackled by officers.
- Minnesota state investigators have reportedly been frozen out of the federal probe.
WASHINGTON — The Federal Bureau of Investigation has assumed primary jurisdiction over the inquiry into the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti by Border Patrol officers, according to confirmation provided by the Department of Homeland Security on Friday.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem disclosed the transfer of investigative authority during a televised interview on Thursday, reversing an earlier announcement that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) would lead the probe. Department spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin subsequently confirmed that the FBI will lead the investigation with HSI support, while Customs and Border Protection conducts a separate internal review.
The jurisdictional shift coincides with comments from President Donald Trump regarding the deceased. In a statement posted to Truth Social on Friday, President Trump characterized Pretti as an “agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist.” The President referenced newly released video footage from a January 13 altercation—11 days prior to the fatal shooting—in which Pretti was recorded shouting at federal officers and damaging a government vehicle.
According to the footage of the January 13 incident, Pretti appeared to kick a federal vehicle and struggle with officers. A handgun was visible in his waistband as he moved away from the encounter. However, videos of the fatal shooting incident on Saturday appear to contradict initial claims that Pretti was armed and aggressive at the time of his death. The footage shows Pretti holding a mobile phone when officers tackled him, with a firearm subsequently removed from the back of his pants by an officer as shots were fired.
Steve Schleicher, an attorney representing the Pretti family, stated that the earlier altercation “in no way justified” the use of lethal force more than a week later. It remains unclear if the FBI will share evidence with Minnesota state investigators, who have reportedly been excluded from the federal probe thus far.
Investigative Oversight & Federal Jurisdiction
The transfer of the investigation to the FBI signals a significant escalation in federal oversight, removing the primary inquiry from the department directly employing the officers involved. This shift is often utilized to ensure impartiality in officer-involved shootings that attract high public visibility. The continued exclusion of state investigators underscores the supremacy of federal jurisdiction in cases involving federal agents, which may create friction regarding local transparency. Furthermore, while executive commentary on the character of the deceased shapes public discourse, the FBI’s investigation is expected to focus strictly on the legal parameters of the use of force at the specific moment of the shooting.
