Pretti’s Family Seeks Answers, Evidence Nine Months After Fatal Shooting

WHO:

NBC News - Alex Pretti was a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse who was killed in Minneapolis.

NBC News - Pretti’s parents said they were “begging” the Justice Department “to do what is right.”

CNN - Pretti’s parents are Michael and Susan Pretti; an attorney represented them in a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche.

CNN - The letter named U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Dan Rosen and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.

CNN - The letter accused the Justice Department of violating the family’s rights under a federal victims’ rights law.

CNN - Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem initially called Pretti a “terrorist” who “attacked” officers after “brandishing” a weapon. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called him an “assassin” who tried to murder federal agents.

WHAT:

CNN - Pretti’s family said they had received no substantive Justice Department updates about the investigation into his death and demanded transparency and justice.

CNN - The family’s letter called the DOJ’s conduct “unconscionable” and “unlawful,” and said Rosen refused to provide information or confirm an evidence-sharing arrangement.

CNN - The letter requested identification of the federal employees who shot Pretti, continued information-sharing with state and local investigators, confirmation of whether the FBI investigation was continuing, and return of personal property no longer needed as evidence.

CNN - Video shows Pretti being pepper-sprayed, then kneeling and bent forward as an officer shouted, “Gun! Gun! Gun!” An agent removed a gun from Pretti’s waistband; at least 10 shots can be heard. The video appeared to show officers firing after an agent with Pretti’s gun had moved away.

CNN - The DHS report on its initial investigation says an officer yelled, “He’s got a gun” multiple times before officers fired.

CNN - Hennepin County prosecutors received volumes of evidence after a June agreement, but the DOJ later stopped sharing information. Court records filed October 13 said prosecutors lacked access to the weapons used to shoot Pretti and the firearm he carried.

CNN - The family’s letter said, “No family should have to beg the U.S. government to do its job.”

WHERE:

NBC News - Pretti was killed in Minneapolis.

CNN - Federal agents shot Pretti in Minneapolis; local investigators sought evidence from federal authorities.

CNN - The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was initially barred from the scene and first accessed it under a state judge’s court order.

WHEN:

CNN - Pretti was 37 when he died.

CNN - The family met Rosen on July 13, when Moriarty announced that federal officials had handed local officials volumes of evidence.

CNN - The evidence-sharing agreement was finalized in June.

CNN - State and local investigators’ court records were filed October 13.

CNN - Pretti’s parents and attorney were scheduled to address the media on October 27 at an 11 a.m. CT news conference.

WHY:

CNN - The family said the DOJ’s refusal to communicate transparently compounded their heartbreak.

CNN - Prosecutors sought evidence after federal authorities restricted their access to the shooting investigation.

HOW:

CNN - State and local investigators sued the Trump administration in federal court to obtain evidence.

CNN - The letter said Rosen would not explain his position, responding, “I can’t tell you for all kinds of reasons,” without specifying any.

CNN - Pretti’s death was captured on video; CNN reported that the footage differed from the Department of Homeland Security’s account.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 20:08 UTC)

Alex Pretti’s parents accused the Justice Department of violating their rights as crime victims and demanded transparency about the Minneapolis shooting that killed their 37-year-old son, a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse. In a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche, they said they had received no substantive updates and requested the identities of the federal agents who shot Pretti, continued evidence-sharing with local investigators, confirmation that the FBI investigation was ongoing, and the return of personal property no longer needed as evidence. Video appears to show officers firing after an agent carrying Pretti’s gun moved away, while a DHS report says an officer repeatedly shouted that Pretti had a gun before shots were fired; state and local investigators have sued the Trump administration for access to evidence.