FBI Refuses to Share Evidence in Pretti Shooting with Minnesota Officials

Trump administration denies state law enforcement access to federal investigation details.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Trump administration has formally denied Minnesota law enforcement access to information and evidence from the FBI investigation into the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal agents on January 24 in Minneapolis. This marks a rupture in the longstanding cooperative relationship between the FBI and Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Why it matters

The refusal to share evidence raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the investigation of Pretti's death, which has sparked protests and a class-action lawsuit over alleged First Amendment violations during a surge of immigration enforcement actions in the state.

The details

Minnesota officials, including the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and other law enforcement agencies, have historically worked closely with the FBI on criminal investigations. However, the Trump administration has taken a hardline stance, branding a previous police shooting victim as a 'domestic terrorist' and refusing to allow state investigators access to the Pretti case evidence.

  • Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents on January 24, 2026 in Minneapolis.
  • The Trump administration formally denied Minnesota law enforcement access to the FBI investigation on February 16, 2026.

The players

Alex Pretti

The victim of a fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Trump administration

The federal government under former President Donald Trump, which has taken a confrontational stance towards state and local law enforcement in certain cases.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

The state law enforcement agency that has historically cooperated with the FBI on criminal investigations, but has now been denied access to the Pretti case evidence.

Jacob Frye

The mayor of Minneapolis, who reported that small businesses and restaurants in the city lost up to $81 million during a recent immigration enforcement surge.

Erik Hanson

The City of Minneapolis' Director of Community Planning and Economic Development, who provided details on the $81 million in losses to local businesses.

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What’s next

The class-action lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota over alleged First Amendment violations during the immigration enforcement surge is ongoing.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's refusal to share evidence with Minnesota officials in the Pretti shooting investigation raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability, and further strains the historically cooperative relationship between federal and state law enforcement agencies.