Federal authorities finally released critical evidence to Minnesota officials investigating two fatal shootings by immigration agents, ending a six-month standoff that required state prosecutors to withhold evidence from a separate federal case to force cooperation.
Evidence Transfer Breaks Months-Long Impasse
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Monday that federal prosecutors surrendered hard drives containing witness statements, police body camera footage, and other materials related to the January deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Federal authorities also turned over Good’s severely damaged SUV, which investigators had sought for months. The transfer came only after Minnesota officials refused to share evidence in an unrelated case until federal prosecutors reciprocated.
Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, died after being shot in her vehicle while leaving an anti-immigration enforcement protest in Minneapolis on January 7. Pretti, also 37, was fatally shot by a Border Patrol officer twenty days later during similar demonstrations. The deaths sparked intense scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
State Officials Force Federal Hand
The breakthrough came after federal officials requested evidence state investigators had gathered regarding ICE agent Christian Castro. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans responded bluntly that state officials would provide materials only if the exchange was reciprocal. State and local prosecutors then amended their lawsuit against federal agencies to highlight the refusal to share evidence collected in the fatal shootings.
Moriarty confirmed the state now possesses all evidence needed for a complete investigation. She emphasized that whenever government actions result in a community member’s death, authorities must conduct full and thorough reviews. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called the six-month delay deeply troubling and said it should never have taken so long to obtain basic cooperation.
Families Demand Accountability
Attorneys for Good’s family called the evidence transfer an important step toward justice and accountability. However, Steve Schleicher, representing Pretti’s family, said federal officials refused to confirm any ongoing cooperation agreement during Monday meetings. He stated no family should be required to beg federal authorities to perform their duties, adding that without public commitments to cooperate, pursuing accountability for Pretti’s death remains difficult or impossible. Federal spokespeople from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ICE, and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment Monday.