• The DOJ has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting of Alex Pretti.
• Pretti was shot by Border Patrol officers while recording immigration agents on his phone.
• The investigation could potentially lead to criminal charges against the involved officers.
• Protests have erupted in response to Pretti's shooting and that of another victim, Renee Good.
• Local Minnesota authorities are pursuing their own investigations amid federal oversight.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident who was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents on January 24. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that "we're looking at everything that would shed light on that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened," underscoring the scope of the investigation, which includes reviewing video evidence and interviewing witnesses. This move contrasts with previous decisions regarding other fatal shootings by federal agents, such as the recent death of Renee Good, for which no similar investigation was deemed necessary, according to scmp and latimes.

The investigation will be led by the FBI, with support from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, following a shift from the Department of Homeland Security, which initially managed the inquiry. Blanche emphasized the preliminary nature of this investigation, aligning it with standard practices when circumstances surrounding a shooting warrant further scrutiny. As reported, "two officers fired their weapons at Pretti during a scuffle," raising questions about the justification for their actions, according to bbc and channelnewsasia.

Pretti was reportedly recording federal immigration agents when he was shot multiple times, and video evidence has shown him unarmed at the time of the encounter, contradicting earlier claims that he had brandished a weapon. Local protests calling for justice have escalated following Pretti's death, which is described as igniting further tension in the community already shaken by police shootings. Authorities have expressed deep concerns over the broader implications for community relations and public safety, according to npr and channelnewsasia.

In addition to the federal investigation, Minnesota officials are taking steps to conduct their own inquiries. State authorities have filed lawsuits to require the preservation of evidence from the Pretti shooting. Notably, the local law enforcement community has been calling for federal agents to withdraw from the area, suggesting a significant local backlash against federal involvement in policing immigration matters, as highlighted in several sources including latimes and bbc.