Family of Shot Nurse Accuses Federal Officials of Hiding Evidence
Parents of Alex Pretti say prosecutors stopped sharing files with state investigators nine months after their son died in Minneapolis.
By Noor Phillips ·
The parents of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse killed in Minneapolis in January, announced Tuesday that federal authorities have withheld key evidence from state investigators for nearly nine months. Michael and Susan Pretti said no official from the Department of Justice has contacted them with substantive information since their son died. They described the federal response as a pattern of silence and misdirection that left the family to learn the details of his death through media reports.
Federal prosecutors disclosed in recent court filings that they ceased sharing evidence with Minnesota authorities who are independently investigating the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good. Both shootings occurred during a surge in deportation enforcement led by President Donald Trump. The state of Minnesota sued the Trump administration in March to gain access to materials it claimed were necessary for a fair inquiry. State officials continue to seek the cellphones of the officers involved and recordings of key interviews.
The Pretti family held a news conference organized by their attorney, Steve Schleicher, to detail their experience. They said they decided to speak publicly after feeling stonewalled by U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen. Rosen agreed to meet with the family and their legal team in July, but the meeting did not clarify the status of the federal investigation. Rosen refused to provide basic updates during that encounter. A spokesman for Rosen’s office offered no comment on Tuesday, and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In the days following the Jan. 24 shooting, administration officials presented a narrative that contradicted video evidence. Kristi Noem, the then-Homeland Security secretary, described Pretti as a domestic terrorist who violently resisted federal agents. Other officials portrayed the U.S. citizen as an armed disruptor who brought a gun to the scene to harm agents. Bystander video captured that day showed Pretti holding only a mobile phone. No footage has surfaced showing him wielding a weapon or attacking officers in the moments before he was shot. Court records indicate he had no prior criminal history.
Susan Pretti criticized the government’s public statements, arguing they attempted to tarnish her son’s memory to cover up errors. She noted that the administration went on television to tell versions of events she found shameful and incorrect. The family’s attorney said the lack of communication from federal prosecutors has compounded the family’s grief and confusion over the legal process.
Michael Pretti recalled that the family first learned of the death when a reporter from The Associated Press called them. He described watching footage of his son being shot repeatedly in the back after he helped a woman who had been shoved to the ground. He said no federal official called the family on that day or in the months that followed. The videos of the shooting continue to affect the family daily, he said.
The father expressed frustration that the family’s trust in national institutions was tested by the handling of the case. He stated that the family believes in the rule of law and expects accountability through that system. He contrasted the government’s public media appearances with its private silence toward the Pretti family. The lack of a formal update from federal authorities remains the central point of contention for the family and their legal team.
The legal dispute between Minnesota and the federal government centers on jurisdiction and access to evidence. The Trump administration has suggested state prosecutors lack the authority to investigate federal officers. Minnesota officials counter that they cannot rely on the federal government to investigate its own agents. This standoff has delayed the release of physical evidence and digital records that state investigators say are critical to their review of the Jan. 24 incident.
The Pretti family said they spoke out to ensure the public understands the timeline of federal communications. They emphasized that their son was a resident of Minneapolis and a nurse at a veterans hospital. The family’s account adds a personal dimension to the legal battles currently unfolding in federal court. Their statements highlight the gap between the government’s initial public narrative and the evidence available in court filings.
