Federal Judge Orders Preservation of Evidence in Minneapolis Shooting Case
A federal judge has mandated that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) retain all evidence related to the shooting of Alex Preti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.
On Saturday evening, U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud issued a temporary restraining order that prevents DHS from destroying or altering any materials concerning the incident that occurred on January 24. The state’s Division of Criminal Enforcement, alongside the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, filed the lawsuit targeting DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Border Protection. A public hearing for the case is set for Monday.
DHS has responded to the lawsuit with some resistance. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that claims of the federal government intending to destroy evidence are “an absurd attempt to divide the American people” and detract from the fact that law enforcement had faced threats. She emphasized that investigations are ongoing, including inquiry into the officers involved in the shooting.
State officials mentioned that federal agents were prevented from accessing the scene of the incident, even after acquiring a judicial warrant. Judge Tostrud, who was appointed by President Trump in 2018, scheduled a hearing for Monday afternoon to deliberate on the possibility of extending the restraining order.
Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy described the situation as “incredibly alarming,” suggesting that the credibility of ICE and DHS is in jeopardy.
Preti, 37, was an ICU nurse at Virginia Hospital in Minneapolis. According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Preti legally possessed the firearm and had a current license to carry it. He had no prior criminal record, with only minor police interactions over traffic violations.
DHS alleges that Preti approached the officers with a 9mm handgun and resisted attempts to disarm him. However, bystander footage reviewed by various news outlets does not indicate that Preti was brandishing the gun before the shooting.
