DOJ Civil Rights joins investigation into Alex Pretti shooting

Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is participating in a multi-department investigation into the shooting death of Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed in Minneapolis last week by two Border Patrol agents.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche would not discuss the scope of the investigation and didn't formally call it a civil rights investigation. He said the division will work with the FBI and a division of the Department of Homeland Security on the investigation.

"I don't want the takeaway to be that there's some massive civil rights investigation that's happening," Blanche said Friday. "This is what I would describe as a standard investigation by the FBI when there's circumstances like what we saw last Saturday, and that that investigation, to the extent it needs to involve lawyers at the Civil Rights Division, it will involve those."

The FBI announced earlier Friday that it would lead the investigation into the shooting with the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security supporting it, CBS reported that DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said.

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Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Veterans Administration, was the second person killed by federal agents in Minneapolis since Operation Metro Surge began in December. Renee Nicole Good, a mom, was killed by an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agent on Jan. 7.

The two agents who shot Pretti were placed on administrative leave after the Saturday shooting.

In an appearance on Fox News, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said, "We will continue to follow the investigation that the FBI is leading and giving them all the information that they need to bring that to conclusion, and make sure that the American people know the truth of the situation and how we can go forward and continue to protect the American people."

The FBI is investigating the Good shooting, but has so far refused to share any information with Minnesota officials about the case.

ICE Out of Minnesota protest on Jan. 23 in Minneapolis

Thousands of protesters march in sub-zero temperatures during "ICE Out" day to protest the federal government's immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Friday. Photo by Craig Lassig/UPI | License Photo