Legal/Law/Criminal Justice and Reform

DOJ Opens Civil Rights Probe Into Alex Pretti Death

[Screenshot YouTube/Associated Press]

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a civil rights probe into the death of Alex Pretti in Minnesota, according to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Blanche confirmed the investigation during a press conference on Friday.

“All that that means is that DHS [Department of Homeland Security], as they’ve, as the Secretary has said, is conducting an investigation, as they should, and as they do every time there’s a tragic event like this,” Blanche said. “And the FBI, in their role, which is a separate role from DHS is also looking into it and conducting an investigation. And that shouldn’t be treated as making news.”

Two Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.

There are “thousands, unfortunately, of law enforcement events every year where somebody is shot” that are not investigated by the division, Blanche later said.

“The civil rights division of the Department of Justice does not investigate every one of those shootings,” he said, noting there have to be “circumstances or facts or maybe unknown facts” that warrant an investigation.

“We’re looking at everything that would shed light on that day,” he continued.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday that they are “continuing to gather information.”

“The FBI leading this investigation is important to make sure that we talk about both [the Renee Good and the Pretti] situations appropriately,” she said.