Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Destroying Evidence After Border Patrol Agent Kills Minneapolis Nurse
A federal judge in Minnesota has ordered the Trump administration to preserve all evidence connected to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man by a Border
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The order follows a lawsuit filed Saturday by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension after federal authorities allegedly prevented state investigators from accessing evidence connected to the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti. Pretti was killed during an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Pretti approached Border Patrol agents armed with a 9mm handgun and “violently resisted” when agents attempted to disarm him. He was shot during the encounter and pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency medical efforts.
The lawsuit names multiple federal agencies — including DHS, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Border Control — along with Attorney General Pam Bondi, as defendants. It seeks to prevent federal officials from destroying or withholding any evidence collected at the scene.
U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud granted a temporary restraining order, ruling that federal officials and anyone acting on their behalf may not destroy evidence currently in their possession. He also scheduled a hearing for Monday to review the order and consider next steps.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said her office will pursue a full criminal review of the incident and emphasized that transparency is non-negotiable. She said the lawsuit is only one step in a broader effort to ensure accountability.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison echoed that message, saying federal agents are not above the law and that state investigators must be given full access to all evidence. He said a thorough, impartial investigation is required and vowed that justice will be pursued.
Ellison also criticized the broader federal operation under which the shooting occurred, describing it as unconstitutional and accusing it of causing fear and violence in local communities. He said his office will argue in court to bring the operation to an end.
The Department of Homeland Security has said it is leading its own investigation into the shooting. Federal officials have not yet publicly responded to the court order or the lawsuit.
Pretti, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, has been identified by local officials as a respected healthcare worker. His death has intensified tensions between state officials and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement tactics and federal authority.