Hennepin County Attorney demands release of information related to Alex Pretti killing; shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis
- Harry Colbert, Jr.
- 45 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Two days after the United States Department of Justice announced it wouldn’t be sharing any information with Minnesota authorities in the killing of Alex Pretti, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty made a formal demand for records and evidence.
The demand, known as a “Touhy” is the required process to obtain records and evidence from a federal agency. The demand calls for the federal government to comply by March 3.
“Hiding evidence and obstructing our investigation is unacceptable and indicates a total lack of confidence in their agents’ actions,” Moriarty said. “We are prepared to take further legal action should the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice fail to meet our deadline and continue to obstruct our investigations. Our work will reflect our commitment to transparency and accountability, even as the federal government tries to avoid both.”
"I have said from the start that there must be a fair, impartial, and transparent investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti, and today’s action is an important step in bringing that about," said Attorney General Keith Ellison. “The FBI's refusal to share evidence with state investigators is unprecedented and deeply troubling, but it will not stop our work to uncover the full story of Pretti’s death at the hands of federal agents. Alex Pretti’s loved ones and the people of Minnesota deserve the truth, and justice demands it.”
Information and evidence being demanded include physical evidence, such as firearms, cartridge casings and uniforms, videos and photographs recorded by federal agents, including those on personal devices, names of all federal agents and officers involved in the shootings, on scene or who responded to the scene, statements from federal agents or officers regarding the shootings and medical records for agents or officers for any injury related to the shootings.
Pretti, 37, an ICU nurse at the VA, was killed in Minneapolis by Border Patrol agents while acting as an ICE observer on the morning of Jan. 24. Julio Sosa-Celis was shot Jan. 14 in North Minneapolis. In that case, ICE officers claimed they were being attacked by two men with shovels when they shot Sosa-Celis in the leg. That narrative was echoed by DOJ officials, but this past week the DOJ admitted ICE officers made statements that were untrue involving the shooting. It then dropped all charges against Sosa-Celis and the other man arrested.