Executive Summary
- FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that HSI is leading the investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, with the FBI assisting.
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed agents acted in self-defense after Pretti brandished a gun, while witness accounts and verified video suggest he was holding a phone.
- Former federal officials have criticized the decision to have HSI investigate an ICE shooting as "highly irregular" and outside their typical scope of international crimes.
- Pretti was a VA nurse and lawful gun owner; this incident marks the second fatal shooting by ICE agents in Minneapolis in recent weeks.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) branch has assumed the lead role in the federal investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, according to a statement by FBI Director Kash Patel. While the FBI will assist, the decision to task HSI with the primary investigative responsibility has drawn scrutiny from former federal law enforcement officials who characterize the move as a departure from standard protocol.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent at approximately 9 a.m. Saturday in south Minneapolis. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Pretti approached officers with a handgun and "reacted violently" during an attempt to disarm him, prompting agents to fire defensive shots.
However, bystander footage reviewed and verified by CBS News depicts Pretti holding a phone in his right hand prior to the shooting. Furthermore, a sworn declaration submitted in federal court by a witness at the scene asserts that Pretti approached agents with a camera rather than a firearm. Local officials confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry under Minnesota law.
The assignment of HSI to lead the inquiry has raised questions regarding investigative independence. Multiple U.S. officials briefed on the matter confirmed that while U.S. Customs and Border Protection is conducting a standard internal administrative review, HSI is directing the criminal probe. Former senior ICE officials described the arrangement to CBS News as "highly irregular," noting that HSI is typically structured to investigate international crimes such as human trafficking and drug smuggling rather than officer-involved shootings.
FBI Director Patel, speaking on Fox News, indicated that investigators are currently focusing on "mostly scientific evidence," including ballistic analysis and DNA evidence. Despite the criticism regarding the investigative hierarchy, officials within the Trump administration have maintained that the agents involved acted in self-defense.
Investigative Integrity and Procedural Analysis
The designation of HSI to investigate a shooting involving personnel under the same DHS umbrella presents significant questions regarding procedural neutrality and conflict of interest. Historically, officer-involved shootings involving federal agents are referred to external agencies, such as the FBI or state bureaus of criminal apprehension, to ensure an unbiased examination of the facts. Experts note that HSI lacks the specialized infrastructure typically reserved for homicide investigations, such as large-scale forensic processing and witness canvassing protocols required in complex use-of-force cases. As the investigation proceeds, the reconciliation of official accounts with bystander video evidence will likely be a focal point for legal observers. It is important to note that all individuals involved in the investigation are presumed innocent of any criminal wrongdoing until proven guilty in a court of law.
