702-623-6362 
What makes matters even worse is that there are conflicting narratives from federal officials and protesters. Unfortunately, much of the physical evidence, including video footage and cell phone recordings, is being processed by investigators, leaving the public to fill in the blanks about what could have happened to Pretti.
According to reports, Pretti was fatally wounded in an interaction with Border Patrol agents at around 9 A.M. on January 24. According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents were in the area to execute a specific operation against an undocumented immigrant who was allegedly wanted for assault. As the agents attempted to carry out their mission, they were reportedly approached by Alex Pretti.
Pretti was legally carrying a handgun. It’s unclear what transpired next, but public video of the incident shows officers spraying Pretti with pepper spray. Next, the officers are seen wrestling Pretti to the ground before shots are fired.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the tense situation. Some bystanders claim the agents shot defensively after Pretti appeared to reach for his firearm. Other witnesses say Pretti was legally armed and was complying with officers when he was unreasonably shot.
Drew Evans, a superintendent of Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, has extensive experience investigating police shootings. He obtained a signed judicial warrant to join the case, but federal officers reportedly blocked his team from the scene of the shooting. In an abundance of caution, a federal judge has also issued an order to prevent the Trump administration and all federal agencies from destroying or altering evidence related to the shooting.
After a phone call with President Trump on Monday, Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz said he would call for an impartial investigation into what happened.
Have you ever been involved in a police interaction or arrested and felt that your rights were violated? Have you ever had an officer use excessive force against you? If so, then don’t make the mistake of thinking the odds are too stacked against you to defend yourself.
One of the main goals of a criminal defense attorney is to ensure that every individual, whether accused of a crime or not, is treated in accordance with the law. Rights violations will typically invalidate an arrest and cause charges against a suspect to get dropped entirely, so it’s important to advocate for yourself if you think you were treated unconstitutionally.
Here at LV Criminal Defense, our team of attorneys can help you advocate for yourself and defend yourself if you’ve been accused of a crime or treated unfairly by the authorities. To schedule a free, confidential, and obligation-free phone call with our team, leave your contact details on our online form.
