Family of Slain ICU Nurse Demands DOJ Release Evidence in ICE Shooting Case

POLICY WIRE — Minneapolis, USA — The parents of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse and U.S. citizen fatally shot by immigration officers nine months ago, are calling on the federal government to release all evidence surrounding their son’s death.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Michael and Susan Pretti stated they have been kept in the dark for 275 days. They noted that a letter sent to Attorney General Todd Blanche over the summer, which requested basic information including the identities of the officers involved, has gone unanswered.

“At every turn, they have ignored us, misled us and shielded Alex’s killers,” Michael Pretti said. Susan Pretti added, We want our son’s killers to be brought into justice once and for all. We are here begging for the Department of Justice to do what is right.

A spokesperson for the government, identified as Pels, stated that communications with family members typically occur at later stages of a case, such as during an indictment, plea, or trial. The Department of Homeland Security has directed all inquiries to the FBI.

The plea for transparency follows a recent development where Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty reported that federal officials stopped sharing information with local investigators. Moriarty’s office previously sued the Trump administration to obtain evidence regarding the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good, as well as the wounding of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.

These incidents occurred in January during Operation Metro Surge, a massive enforcement effort that deployed over 3,000 immigration agents to Minnesota. While federal officials began turning over some evidence in July, Moriarty claims that cooperation has ceased, accusing the government of obstructing local investigations.

In a motion to dismiss filed in Washington, D.C., DOJ attorneys argued that the federal government is not required to share information with state authorities when no formal legal proceedings are active. The Trump administration has maintained that state prosecutors lack jurisdiction over federal officers.

Family attorney Steven L. Schleicher argued that his clients have a right to access evidence under the Crime Victims Rights Act. “How is it possible that the Department of Justice is not sharing evidence,” Schleicher asked. “What are they hiding?”

The Prettis also expressed frustration over the government’s public narrative regarding the shooting. “The federal government went on TV and lied about Alex. They tried to slander his memory to cover up their crime,” Susan Pretti said. “Not only was it wrong, it was shameful, unfair, unacceptable. We want to clear our son’s name.”

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)