By Harshit
MINNEAPOLIS, JANUARY 26, 2026
A federal judge has issued an emergency order preventing federal agencies from destroying or altering evidence related to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse killed during an encounter with federal agents in Minneapolis over the weekend.
The ruling comes as mounting political, legal, and public pressure intensifies over the Trump administration’s expanded immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota and the use of deadly force against U.S. citizens.
Court Steps In After Family Seeks Protection of Evidence
A federal court hearing is scheduled for Monday after a judge granted a temporary restraining order barring federal authorities from tampering with any material connected to Pretti’s death. The order covers body-camera footage, surveillance video, forensic evidence, and internal communications.
Pretti, 37, was shot and killed Saturday during a confrontation with federal agents amid ongoing protests against immigration raids in Minneapolis. His family and civil rights attorneys argue that immediate court intervention was necessary to preserve evidence amid conflicting official accounts.
Federal Officials Withhold Key Details
Federal authorities have claimed the agent involved acted in self-defense, alleging Pretti was armed and resisted law enforcement. However, officials have declined to release specific evidence supporting those claims, including full video footage or a detailed timeline of the shooting.
Multiple lawmakers — including some Republicans — have publicly called for an independent investigation, citing the lack of transparency and the seriousness of a federal officer killing a U.S. citizen.
Legal experts reviewing available videos say they raise significant unanswered questions, particularly regarding whether Pretti posed an imminent threat at the moment deadly force was used.
Separate Hearing Targets Immigration Crackdown
In a separate proceeding scheduled for Monday, a federal judge will hear arguments on whether to temporarily halt immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, part of the Trump administration’s nationwide crackdown.
Federal officials have privately acknowledged concern over escalating unrest in the Twin Cities but say there are no plans to change enforcement posture, according to sources familiar with internal discussions.
The Minnesota operations, known as Operation Metro Surge, began in December and have dramatically increased the presence of federal agents in Minneapolis and surrounding areas.
Pattern of Deadly Encounters Raises Alarm
Pretti’s death marks the second killing of a U.S. citizen by federal agents in Minnesota this month, following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good earlier in January. Both incidents occurred during or near immigration enforcement activities.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has sharply criticized federal accounts of both shootings, calling recent official explanations “not credible” and demanding federal cooperation with state investigators.
Civil rights advocates argue the shootings reflect a broader erosion of constitutional protections amid aggressive enforcement tactics.
National Debate Over Rights and Accountability
Gun rights organizations have also questioned federal claims that Pretti unlawfully possessed a firearm, noting that Minnesota law allows licensed carry. Legal scholars say the administration’s rhetoric contradicts longstanding positions on Second Amendment protections.
Meanwhile, protests have spread beyond Minnesota, with demonstrations and symbolic actions appearing in cities including Los Angeles, where anti-ICE imagery was projected onto a federal detention facility over the weekend.
As investigations proceed, critics warn that public trust in federal law enforcement is at stake unless authorities provide full transparency and accountability.