Alex Pretti killing: Trump weighs in as state–federal probe fight deepens
President Trump urged a “very honorable and honest investigation” into the killing of 37‑year‑old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, saying he is “watching over” the case as the White House confirms DHS is leading a federal probe with Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI involved, CBP conducting an internal review, DHS acknowledging body‑camera video from at least four Border Patrol agents, and the DOJ not having opened a separate civil‑rights investigation; a U.S. district judge has ordered preservation of evidence while a separate state lawsuit seeks to keep evidence intact, and BCA officials say federal authorities initially denied state investigators access despite a judicial warrant though state investigators have since been on scene. Plaintiffs in a federal civil suit have filed a sworn declaration about the Nicollet & 28th shooting that, alongside video and live‑witness testimony, alleges agents used pepper spray and physical force on multiple observers immediately before the fatal shots and that no witness saw Pretti holding a gun, expanding the evidentiary record in litigation challenging DHS’s Metro Surge tactics.
📌 Key Facts
- The new sworn declaration specifically concerns the Nicollet & 28th shooting of Alex Pretti (the first south-side killing), not the later Hawthorne incident.
- Plaintiffs say they now have live-witness testimony that agents used pepper spray and physical force on multiple observers immediately before the fatal shots, and a witness swore they saw no gun in Pretti’s hands at any point — adding sworn testimony to existing video review findings.
- That declaration has been attached to a federal civil case targeting DHS leadership over Metro Surge tactics, expanding the evidentiary record beyond raw video.
- President Donald Trump said he wants a "very honorable and honest investigation" into the death of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti and said he is "watching over" the matter.
- The White House says the federal probe is being led by DHS, with Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI teaming up and Customs and Border Protection conducting an internal review; the Justice Department has not opened a separate civil-rights investigation so far.
- DHS has acknowledged body-camera video from at least four Border Patrol agents who were on scene.
- A U.S. District Court judge granted a temporary restraining order requiring the federal government to preserve all evidence related to Pretti’s death; a separate state lawsuit likewise seeks preservation until state investigators can inspect it. BCA Superintendent Drew Evans says federal authorities initially denied state investigators access even after the BCA had a judicial warrant, though BCA investigators later were at the scene on Sunday and Tuesday.
📊 Relevant Data
Somali immigrants in Minnesota have a two- to fivefold higher crime rate compared to natives when using apples-to-apples comparisons.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
Somali Minnesotans generate at least $500 million in income annually and pay about $67 million in state and local taxes.
Somali Minnesotans drive economic growth, pay $67M taxes annually — KSTP
Somali immigrants fled civil war in Somalia and built communities in Minnesota, becoming a target due to fraud scandals.
Somalis Fled Civil War and Built a Community. Now They Are a Target. — The New York Times
US immigration agents were involved in 29 shooting incidents under the second Trump administration as of January 2026, including 16 instances of shooting at people.
US immigration agents shot at people 16 times under Trump's second administration — The Guardian
Minnesota's foreign-born population reached nearly 490,000 residents in 2023, comprising 8.6% of the state's population.
The Growth and Impact of Minnesota's Foreign-Born Workforce — Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- President Donald Trump publicly said he wants a "very honorable and honest investigation" into the killing of 37‑year‑old ICU nurse Alex Pretti and claimed he is "watching over" it.
- The White House says DHS is leading the federal probe, with Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI teaming up and CBP running an internal review; DOJ has not opened a separate civil‑rights investigation so far.
- DHS has acknowledged body‑camera video from at least four Border Patrol agents on scene.
- A U.S. District Court judge has already granted a temporary restraining order requiring the federal government to preserve all evidence related to Pretti’s death, while a separate state lawsuit seeks to keep that evidence preserved until state investigators can inspect it.
- BCA Superintendent Drew Evans says federal authorities initially denied state investigators access to the scene even after the BCA had a judicial warrant, something he said he has not seen before when jurisdiction is concurrent; BCA investigators have since been at the scene on Sunday and Tuesday.
- Clarifies that the detailed account in the new declaration specifically concerns the Nicollet & 28th shooting of Alex Pretti (the first south‑side killing), not the later Hawthorne incident.
- Shows that, in addition to video, plaintiffs now have live‑witness testimony that agents used pepper spray and physical force on multiple observers immediately before the fatal shots.
- Establishes that the witness saw no gun in Pretti’s hands at any point, adding sworn testimony to what video reviewers have already suggested.
- Documents that this declaration is already attached to a federal civil case targeting DHS leadership over Metro Surge tactics, expanding the evidentiary base beyond raw video.