MINNEAPOLIS — President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that his administration is “reviewing everything” related to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident by federal agents, even as a federal judge intervened to prevent the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from destroying or altering evidence from the scene.
The incident, which occurred Saturday morning, has ignited a fierce constitutional standoff between the White House and Minnesota state officials. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a local Veterans Affairs hospital, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents during an enforcement operation dubbed “Operation Metro Surge.” The shooting is the second fatal encounter involving federal agents in Minneapolis this month, following the death of Renee Good on January 7.
A Conflict of Narratives
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, President Trump stated that the administration is conducting an internal probe. “We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination,” Trump said. However, he stopped short of criticizing the agents involved, instead using his social media platform, Truth Social, to blame local leadership for the chaos.
Trump shared images of a 9 mm handgun and magazines allegedly recovered from the scene, questioning why local police were “called off” and not protecting federal officers. “This is the gunman’s gun… what is that all about?” Trump wrote, accusing Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey of “inciting insurrection” through their criticism of federal tactics.
Senior administration officials, including Stephen Miller and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, have labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and a “would-be assassin.” In contrast, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry, and bystander videos appeared to show a chaotic scuffle where Pretti was pinned to the ground before being shot multiple times in the back.
The Judicial Intervention
Late Saturday night, U.S. District Court Judge Eric Tostrud—a Trump appointee—issued a temporary restraining order against the federal government. The ruling came after the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office filed an emergency lawsuit alleging that federal agents had physically blocked state investigators from the crime scene, despite the state having a signed judicial warrant.
“Both the rule of law and the sense of justice we all carry within us demand a full, fair and transparent investigation into his death. We will not settle for less,” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in a statement following the ruling.
Judge Tostrud’s order specifically prohibits the DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from “destroying or altering evidence” currently in their exclusive custody. This includes forensic evidence removed from the scene at the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue.
State vs. Federal Tensions
The legal battle highlights the deepening rift between the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement and “sanctuary” jurisdictions. Minnesota and Illinois have already filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the federal surge, arguing that operations like “Metro Surge” and “Midway Blitz” infringe on state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment.
Governor Tim Walz has described the federal presence in Minneapolis as an “occupation” and called the video evidence of the shooting “sickening.” Meanwhile, the administration maintains that the agents acted in self-defense against a “violent” suspect who resisted disarming.
The federal court has scheduled a hearing for Monday afternoon to determine if the evidence preservation order should remain in effect. In the meantime, the city remains on edge, with thousands of protesters gathering at the site of the shooting to demand the removal of federal agents from Minnesota.
Political Fallout
The controversy has reached the halls of Congress, where Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer threatened to block a government funding package unless it includes restrictions on DHS spending in metropolitan areas. The administration, however, shows no sign of backing down. Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the agents on Sunday, calling the shooting an “incredibly split-second decision” made in a hostile environment.
As the administration’s review continues, the focal point remains the vast discrepancy between the “terrorist” label used by Washington and the “dedicated nurse” description offered by Pretti’s family and colleagues. With a federal judge now overseeing the preservation of evidence, the coming days will likely determine whether the investigation remains a federal internal matter or moves into the hands of state prosecutors.
Sources and Links
- Fox News: Judge blocks Trump admin from ‘destroying or altering’ evidence in deadly Minneapolis shooting
- The Guardian: ‘Heartbroken, horrified’: Democrats outraged over Minneapolis shooting
- MPR News: Judge grants order barring feds from altering or destroying evidence in Pretti shooting
- Associated Press via OPB: Videos of deadly Minneapolis shooting contradict government statements
- JURIST: States sue Trump administration days after fatal Minneapolis ICE shooting
- Livemint: Trump asks ‘what is that all about?’ after suspect found with gun in Minneapolis
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