The family of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse fatally shot by immigration agents in January, accused the federal government of silencing them during the investigation into their son's death. At a public news conference, his parents alleged they have been ignored, misled, and shielded from information about the agents responsible. They claimed the U.S. attorney for Minnesota and the Justice Department refused to share details, violating the Crime Victims' Rights Act.
Federal officials have yet to disclose the identities of the agents who fired at least 10 bullets into Mr. Pretti's back on Jan. 24. The agents involved are identified as Jesus Ochoa, a Border Patrol agent, and Raymundo Gutierrez of Customs and Border Protection. The parents' attorney highlighted a pattern of government protection surrounding the agents' identities.
The letter from the family also accused officials of participating in a campaign to publicly disparage the deceased nurse. The killings of Mr. Pretti and Renee Good within weeks of each other led to a nationwide outcry and forced President Trump to withdraw hundreds of immigration agents from Minnesota. However, officials in Minnesota have blamed the federal government for obstructing access to the scene and failing to cooperate with local authorities.
Legal actions, including a lawsuit by Minnesota's attorney general and the local prosecutor's office, accuse federal officials of withholding key evidence. Despite the public pressure, the investigations into both deaths have produced little visible action.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing