Trump admin barred from ‘destroying or altering’ Alex Pretti shooting evidence

A federal judge in Minnesota has blocked the Trump administration from “destroying or altering evidence” related to a fatal shooting involving a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday.

The ruling came after the Hennepin County Prosecutor’s Office and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension filed a lawsuit Saturday to prevent the destruction of evidence in the shooting death of Alex Pretty, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident who was killed by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration enforcement operation.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Pretty approached Border Patrol agents armed with a 9mm handgun and “resisted violently” when they attempted to disarm him.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, names the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and U.S. Border Patrol, as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi, as defendants.

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The groups, represented by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, said the lawsuit is accompanied by a motion for a temporary restraining order asking the court to immediately prevent the defendants from destroying any evidence related to the shooting.

In granting the temporary injunction, Judge Eric Tostrud wrote that federal officials and those acting on their behalf cannot destroy evidence taken from the scene of the south Minneapolis shooting or now in their exclusive custody, which state authorities say they were previously prohibited from inspecting.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday to review the matter.

“As I said earlier today, I will not rest, my team will not rest, until we do everything we can, everything we can, to achieve transparency and accountability,” Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement. “Our office has the jurisdiction to review this matter for possible criminal conduct by the federal agents involved and we will do so.”

Moriarty added that the lawsuit is just one of the actions her office is taking “to ensure that a comprehensive and transparent statewide investigation can be completed.”

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This undated photo provided by Michael Pretty shows Alex J. Pretty, the man who was shot by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Michael Pretty via AP)

In announcing the lawsuit, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison asserted that “federal agents are not above the law and Alex Peretti is certainly not below it.”

“A full, fair and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting at the hands of DHS agents is non-negotiable,” he said in a statement. “Minnesota law enforcement is currently conducting such an investigation, and it is imperative that the evidence collected by federal agents be preserved and turned over to state officials. Today’s lawsuit is intended to prevent the federal government from destroying or tampering with any of the evidence they have collected.”

“Justice will be done,” Ellison added.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice for comment.

In a separate statement, Ellison said he shared “deep sadness and anger” after Preeti was shot dead during the Trump administration’s “Metro Surge” operation.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke on Fox News Live regarding the shooting involving CBP in Minnesota on Saturday, January 24. (Fox News Live)

He said his office would argue in court on Monday to end “this illegal and unconstitutional occupation of our cities and the terrorism and violence it causes.”

The Department of Homeland Security said it is leading the investigation into the shooting.

Preeti was an ICU nurse at the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Although paramedics immediately rendered aid, Preeti was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.