Blanche announces federal civil rights probe into death of Alex Pretti

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Friday that the Justice Department has launched a civil rights probe into the death of Alex Pretti, a protester who was fatally shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis last weekend. 

Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot during an altercation with federal law enforcement. The incident marked the second protester fatality in recent weeks, following Renee Good, whom an agent shot in her vehicle during an unrelated incident.

The federal agents involved in Pretti's death have already been placed on leave amid an investigation into the shooting.

“We’re looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened,” Blanche said during an unrelated press conference, according to NBC News. 

The deputy attorney general did not provide details on the reasons for the investigation, but indicated the events that led to the incident warranted a probe.

"There are thousands, unfortunately, of law enforcement events every year where somebody is shot," Blanche said. "The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice does not investigate every one of those shootings. There has to be circumstances or facts, or maybe unknown facts, but certainly circumstances that warrant an investigation.

"President Trump has said repeatedly, 'Of course, this is something we’re going to investigate,'" he added.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.