Federal investigators are scrambling to review and document body-camera footage from the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was shot by a Border Patrol officer in south Minneapolis. The investigation into Pretti's death has raised concerns about the integrity and credibility of the probe due to issues with the handling of evidence.
One major issue is the lack of a documented chain of custody for Pretti's registered firearm, which raises questions about the reliability of any forensic evidence related to the incident. According to officials briefed on the investigation, the firearm was not properly secured in a plastic evidence bag and labeled with identifying details such as the date, item, and name of the last person who handled it.
This lack of documentation could impact any future civil rights investigation or prosecution of the Border Patrol officer involved in Pretti's death. Furthermore, sources have revealed that the weapons used by CBP agents at the scene of the shooting have not been transferred to the FBI for analysis, raising questions about investigative practices and how many officers fired their guns.
The investigation into Pretti's death is being led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the FBI. However, some officials have expressed concerns that the investigation is not following standard protocols, such as immediate scene control and secure evidence collection with documented chain of custody.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison have sought access to the crime scene but were denied by federal authorities, who claimed it was necessary for the safety of the agents involved. However, state officials argue that this was a pretext to prevent the destruction or alteration of evidence.
The situation has led to calls for greater transparency and accountability from top federal officials, including Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who has been relieved of his command in Minneapolis and is expected to return to California's El Centro sector.
One major issue is the lack of a documented chain of custody for Pretti's registered firearm, which raises questions about the reliability of any forensic evidence related to the incident. According to officials briefed on the investigation, the firearm was not properly secured in a plastic evidence bag and labeled with identifying details such as the date, item, and name of the last person who handled it.
This lack of documentation could impact any future civil rights investigation or prosecution of the Border Patrol officer involved in Pretti's death. Furthermore, sources have revealed that the weapons used by CBP agents at the scene of the shooting have not been transferred to the FBI for analysis, raising questions about investigative practices and how many officers fired their guns.
The investigation into Pretti's death is being led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the FBI. However, some officials have expressed concerns that the investigation is not following standard protocols, such as immediate scene control and secure evidence collection with documented chain of custody.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison have sought access to the crime scene but were denied by federal authorities, who claimed it was necessary for the safety of the agents involved. However, state officials argue that this was a pretext to prevent the destruction or alteration of evidence.
The situation has led to calls for greater transparency and accountability from top federal officials, including Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who has been relieved of his command in Minneapolis and is expected to return to California's El Centro sector.
this whole thing got me thinking... what does it say about our society when we prioritize the safety of agents over transparency & accountability? 
I mean, isn't that just a fancy way of saying "we don't want to admit to doing anything wrong"? 
and then we wonder why people lose trust in institutions? 
And don't even get me started on the lack of documentation for the scene control and forensic analysis 
. I mean, if there was a "safety" reason why the governor couldn't access the crime scene, it seems like that's just a convenient excuse to hide something 
.
. It's time for some real transparency and accountability, or else we'll be stuck in the dark forever 
. And what about those FBI agents? Why weren't they analyzing the guns used at the scene? Is it because someone up high is trying to sweep something under the rug 
?
! I mean, a registered firearm not in a plastic bag with all the deets? That's just basic forensics 101 
. And now they're saying it could impact future investigations? Like, what even is going on here? 
. It's all about coverin' their own butts, imo 
. And those top officials think they're above the law? Get real, fam 
. We need answers and we need 'em now 
. I mean, come on, no chain of custody for the gun? That's like playing with fire 
without knowing what you're doing. I'm not saying it's necessarily the end of the world or anything (although it is kinda concerning), but seriously, how hard can it be to label a bag and date stamp it 
?
.
And what's up with not transferring guns to the FBI for analysis? That's just basic procedure 
. The lack of documentation for the firearm used in the incident is a huge red flag. It's like they're trying to hide something. I mean, if there were no issues with evidence handling, why would the governor and attorney general be denied access to the crime scene? Sounds like some pretty suspicious behavior to me 
! The lack of documentation on the firearm is a huge red flag 
. How can we trust the investigation if there are gaps like this? 
. Why did federal authorities deny Gov. Walz and AG Ellison access to the crime scene? 
Was it just a convenient excuse? 
!
this whole thing needs to be taken seriously and transparency needs to come from the top 
And now, because of it, potentially crucial information might be lost or altered. It's just not fair to Alex Pretti's family that this is happening. They deserve answers and justice, and I hope the authorities get their act together soon. 
. I mean, can you believe that the cops messed up so badly? They didn't even secure the gun right 
I'm so worried about this investigation... it sounds like there are a lot of problems with how the evidence was handled. If the gun Alex Pretti had wasn't properly secured and labeled, that could totally mess up any forensic evidence they try to find out what happened. 
. Like, come on! This whole thing reeks of a cover-up and I'm not buying it. The fact that the governor was denied access to the scene and they had to make up some safety excuse is just red flag after red flag 
... how can you trust anything if it wasn't even properly secured? 
And what's up with not transferring those guns to the FBI for analysis? 
I'm all about transparency and accountability, especially when it comes to things like this... it's not fair to Alex Pretti or his family that they don't get the answers they deserve 