Federal Judge Blocks Evidence Destruction in Border Patrol Shooting Case
A federal judge in Minnesota has intervened to prevent the Trump administration from “destroying or tampering with evidence” linked to a recent shooting by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.
This decision follows a lawsuit filed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Division of Criminal Enforcement, aimed at stopping the destruction of evidence in the case of Alex Preti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident fatally shot during an immigration raid.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims that Preti “violently resisted” Border Patrol agents while armed with a 9mm handgun as they attempted to disarm him.
The lawsuit, which was submitted in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, lists DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Border Patrol, and Attorney General Pam Bondi as defendants.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison noted that the lawsuit includes a request for a temporary restraining order to immediately halt any destruction of evidence from the shooting.
Judge Eric Tostrad granted a preliminary injunction, stating that federal agents cannot suppress evidence from the shooting scene or any evidence currently in their exclusive possession, which state authorities have previously been barred from inspecting.
A hearing has been set for Monday to discuss the order. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty emphasized her commitment to a transparent investigation, saying, “Our office has the authority to investigate this matter for potential criminal conduct by the federal officers involved, and we intend to do so.”
Moriarty also indicated that the lawsuit is just one step in ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation at the state level.
Ellison asserted that “no federal employee is above the law,” arguing for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into Preti’s shooting. He remarked that it’s vital for evidence collected by federal agents to be preserved and turned over to state authorities.
The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly leading the inquiry into the shooting incident.
Preti, an ICU nurse with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was quickly attended to by medical personnel but was pronounced dead at the scene.
