Minnesota state officials report that the federal government has halted the sharing of evidence in two separate investigations into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers during protests in Minneapolis earlier this year. The abrupt pause in evidence transfer was disclosed in October court filings, following a July announcement that the materials would be provided to state investigators.
Federal agencies cease evidence transfer in Good and Pretti investigations
On September 10, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota informed state prosecutors that evidence sharing would be paused indefinitely, citing “challenges with D.C.” according to court documents. This reversal came after state prosecutors had announced in July that the federal government had begun turning over materials, including police body camera video and hard drives containing statements. Minnesota investigators are seeking cell phones of the officers involved and recordings of key interviews, but federal agencies have not provided these items.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, led by Mary Moriarty, has filed motions demanding the evidence be handed over, arguing in court filings that federal agencies “have identified no legal authority or rational basis justifying their obstruction of state criminal investigations.” The Justice Department, in a response filed Tuesday, asserted that it has discretion to decline sharing information with state authorities.
Background: The shootings and legal disputes
Renee Good, 37, was shot by an ICE officer on January 18 as she drove away from a protest. Alex Pretti, 37, was shot by a Border Patrol agent while assisting another protester on the same night. Both were U.S. citizens. The incidents occurred amid a federal immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis, which local leaders described as a “siege” due to the deployment of militarized, masked federal agents. The Department of Homeland Security oversees both ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agencies involved in the shootings.
Jurisdictional conflict between state and federal authorities
The Trump administration has maintained that state prosecutors lack jurisdiction to investigate federal officers, while Minnesota officials have stated they do not trust the federal government to investigate itself. The state’s legal challenge, filed in March, sought access to materials for an independent investigation. The federal government’s decision to pause evidence sharing has intensified the dispute, with state prosecutors arguing that the obstruction undermines their ability to conduct thorough inquiries.
The families of Good and Pretti have also pursued legal action. The family of Good filed a lawsuit earlier this month over her death, seeking accountability for the fatal shooting. The cases remain unresolved, with no public updates on whether federal agencies plan to resume evidence sharing.