The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation in the shooting death of Alex Pretti, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters on Friday.
“We’re looking at everything that would shed light on that day,” Blanche said during a news conference on Friday.
In response to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the FBI was leading the probe.
“FBI is now leading the Pretti investigation with HSI supporting. This is separate from the CBP investigation,” the spokesperson said.
Blanche said that a recent video appearing to show Pretti spitting at federal agents and damaging a government SUV days before the shooting wouldn’t impact the DOJ’s perception of the investigation.
“I don’t think a single video should change any perception that the Department of Justice may or may not have about that tragic occurrence last Saturday,” Blanche said.
While speaking with reporters on Friday, Blanche repeatedly emphasized that professionals at the
Pretti was fatally shot on Jan. 17 during an interaction with U.S. Border Patrol personnel in Minneapolis, Minn.
Weeks before Pretti was fatally shot, federal agents had a deadly encounter with Renee Nicole Good. However, Blanche suggested that there would not be a civil rights investigation into her case, saying that the DOJ Civil Rights Division “does not investigate” every shooting and that “it depends on the circumstances.” He did not go into specifics about why Pretti’s death was being probed by the Civil Rights Division, but Good’s was not.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.