By Salma El-Sakka
The parents of Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse fatally shot by immigration officers in Minneapolis, demanded Tuesday that the Justice Department release all evidence related to his death.
Nine-month wait for answers
Michael and Susan Pretti said at a news conference that the federal government has kept them in the dark for 275 days. They sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche over the summer seeking basic information, including the identities of the officers involved.
DOJ cites standard practice
A Justice Department spokesperson said communications with victims' families typically do not occur during an investigation and that any contact comes at later stages such as indictment or trial.
State lawsuit and federal resistance
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty sued the Trump administration in March to compel sharing of evidence in Pretti's case and two other ICE-involved shootings. The federal government recently moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing it has authority to decline sharing information with state authorities absent formal proceedings.
Parents accuse government of cover-up
The Prettis said videos of the shooting contradict the administration's narrative and that officials lied about their son to cover up the crime. They vowed to clear his name.
