Pretti Family Demands DOJ Accountability After Nine Months of Silence

Key points

• Michael and Susan Pretti stated that no federal official has contacted them with substantive information regarding their son’s killing since January 2026.
• The family’s attorney, Steve Schleicher, cited the Crime Victims Rights Act, arguing the family is entitled to evidence, including the identities of the officers involved.
• Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty sued the Trump administration in March for evidence related to the shootings of Pretti, Renee Good, and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, but the federal government recently stopped sharing materials.
• The DOJ stated that communications with victims’ families typically occur only after indictment or trial, not during the investigation phase.
• Bystander footage contradicts the initial Trump administration narrative that Pretti was a domestic terrorist or armed disruptor, showing him with a mobile phone while helping a protester.

Background

Alex Pretti was killed on January 24, 2026, during 'Operation Metro Surge,' a deployment of over 3,000 immigration officers to Minnesota. His death occurred shortly after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by another ICE officer. These incidents sparked widespread protests and legal battles over jurisdiction and evidence sharing between state and federal authorities. The Prettis first learned of their son’s death from media reports, as federal officials did not contact them directly.

How outlets are covering it

The Prettis and their attorney characterize the federal government’s silence as a deliberate effort to shield the officers and slander their son’s memory, calling the lack of cooperation 'cruelty' and 'morally wrong.' In contrast, the DOJ, through spokesperson Kiersten Pels, maintains that the timing is consistent with standard investigative procedures, noting that family communications usually happen at later stages like indictment or sentencing. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty argues that the federal government is obstructing state investigations by withholding evidence, while federal prosecutors contend they are not obligated to share materials without formal legal proceedings. The initial Trump administration narrative, which labeled Pretti a domestic terrorist, is sharply contrasted by the family’s presentation of video evidence showing him unarmed and assisting a victim.

Why it matters

This case highlights the tension between federal and state jurisdictions in investigating immigration enforcement actions and the rights of victims' families to access information. The dispute over evidence sharing and the conflicting narratives regarding the circumstances of the shooting have significant implications for accountability in federal law enforcement operations and the transparency of the DOJ’s handling of civil rights cases.

What to watch

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has filed a motion for summary judgment to compel the federal government to release the withheld evidence. The DOJ has filed a motion to dismiss the state’s lawsuit. The family continues to seek a meeting with U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and other federal officials to obtain basic information about the investigation status.