JUST IN: A federal judge in Minnesota barred the Trump administration from destroying or altering evidence in the shooting death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, killed by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration enforcement operation on Saturday. The lawsuit, filed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, names DHS, ICE, CBP, U.S. Border Control, and Attorney General Pam Bondi as defendants. Pretti allegedly approached agents armed with a 9 mm pistol and resisted disarmament. Judge Eric Tostrud’s injunction preserves evidence, with a hearing Monday. County Attorney Mary Moriarty pledged a thorough, state-level investigation for accountability.

JUST IN: A federal judge in Minnesota barred the Trump administration from destroying or altering evidence in the shooting death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, killed by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration enforcement operation on Saturday. The lawsuit, filed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, names DHS, ICE, CBP, U.S. Border Control, and Attorney General Pam Bondi as defendants. Pretti allegedly approached agents armed with a 9 mm pistol and resisted disarmament. Judge Eric Tostrud’s injunction preserves evidence, with a hearing Monday. County Attorney Mary Moriarty pledged a thorough, state-level investigation for accountability.

*Federal Judge Blocks Destruction of Evidence in Alex Pretti Case*

A federal judge in Minnesota has temporarily barred the U.S. government from destroying or altering evidence tied to the fatal shooting of **37-year-old Alex Pretti**, who was killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026.

The order came late Saturday in response to a lawsuit filed by the **Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)** and the **Hennepin County Attorney’s Office**, represented by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. The complaint names the **Department of Homeland Security (DHS)**, **Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)**, **Customs and Border Protection (CBP)**, **U.S. Border Control**, and **U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi** as defendants.

In granting the temporary restraining order, **U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud** ruled that federal agencies and anyone acting on their behalf may *not destroy or alter evidence* related to the shooting, including material already removed from the scene or under federal custody. A further hearing on the order is scheduled for Monday

State officials say they were initially **blocked from accessing the shooting scene**, even after obtaining a warrant — a rare and contentious development that prompted the legal action. The BCA typically investigates use-of-force incidents involving law enforcement in Minnesota, but said federal agents denied their entry.

Hennepin County Attorney **Mary Moriarty** underscored the importance of transparency, saying her office will pursue a thorough state-level investigation and review potential criminal conduct by federal agents. Likewise, Attorney General **Keith Ellison** argued that federal officers “are not above the law” and called for an impartial investigation.

Federal authorities have acknowledged ongoing investigations into the shooting, including internal reviews by DHS, but have disputed claims that evidence is at risk of destruction, saying key materials such as body-camera footage are being preserved.

The incident has intensified tensions between state and federal law enforcement and drawn national attention, with legislators seeking broader records related to the Pretti case and other fatal encounters involving immigration officers.