U.S. Justice Department opens civil rights probe into Alex Pretti shooting, official says
The Hindu
The U.S. Justice Department launches a civil rights investigation into the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal officers.
The U.S. Justice Department has started a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, a senior official said on Friday (January 30, 2026).
The Department’s investigation could potentially lead to criminal charges against the officers involved, though there is a high legal bar to bring such a case.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the FBI was examining Saturday’s (January 24, 2026) shooting with potential assistance from the Department’s Civil Rights Division, which typically plays a leading role in investigations into use of force by law enforcement. He cautioned the review was preliminary and he downplayed its scope.
“This is what I would describe as a standard investigation by the FBI when there’s circumstances like what we saw last Saturday [January 24,2026],” Mr. Blanche said at a news conference.
Pretti’s shooting by agents taking part in an immigration crackdown has stirred widespread outrage and prompted the Trump administration to make changes in the operation in Minnesota. Local officials have said the administration cannot be trusted and are pursuing their own investigation.
“The family’s focus is on a fair and impartial investigation that examines the facts around his murder,” Steve Schleicher, an attorney representing the Pretti family, told Reuters in a statement.
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