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Federal officials halt evidence sharing in Alex Pretti case

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 23:05 UTC · How we work

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Story summary

Summary

Michael Pretti and Susan Pretti, parents of Alex Pretti, demand release of evidence about his January shooting.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty sued the Trump administration in March to force evidence sharing.
Federal officials first gave body-camera video, then halted sharing the gun, cellphones, and statements.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen was accused of stonewalling the family for nine months, replying only “I can’t tell you.”

Summary

Video shows agents pepper-spraying Pretti, confiscating his handgun, then firing at least ten shots in five seconds.
A Jan. 27 congressional report confirmed two Border Patrol agents discharged firearms during the Pretti incident.
Former DHS secretary Kristi Noem resigned after intense scrutiny over false claims about Pretti.
Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino was demoted and retired in March after accusing Pretti of a massacre.

History

On January 1 2009, BART officer Johannes Mehserle shot unarmed 22-year-old Oscar Grant at Oakland’s Fruitvale station, a moment captured on bystanders’ cell-phone video. The footage sparked protests, a July 8 2010 conviction for involuntary manslaughter and a $5.1 million settlement to Grant’s daughter, prompting BART to adopt stricter video-release policies. The case is cited as an early catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement that emerged in 2013.

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Historical Context

On January 1 2009, BART officer Johannes Mehserle shot unarmed 22-year-old Oscar Grant at Oakland’s Fruitvale station, a moment captured on bystanders’ cell-phone video. The footage sparked protests, a July 8 2010 conviction for involuntary manslaughter and a $5.1 million settlement to Grant’s daughter, prompting BART to adopt stricter video-release policies. The case is cited as an early catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement that emerged in 2013.

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