Feb. 16 (UPI) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation informed Minnesota’s highest investigative agency that it will not share evidence and information related to the killing of Alex Pretti.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a statement that it was informed by the FBI on Friday it would not be sharing any information.
Superintendent Drew Evans called the decision “concerning and unprecedented.”
“While this lack of cooperation is concerning and unprecedented, the BCA is committed to thorough, independent and transparent investigations of these incidents, even if hampered by a lack of access to key information and evidence,” Evans said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue all legal avenues to gain access to relevant information and evidence.”
Pretty, 37, was shot multiple times by federal agents on Jan. 24, while observing their activities in the Minneapolis area. He was the second civilian killed in the area by federal agents, weeks after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good.
The FBI has also refused to cooperate with Minnesota authorities in the investigation into Good’s killing at the hands of federal agent Jonathan Ross.
The FBI also stopped Minnesota authorities from collecting evidence connected to Pretti’s killing. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was briefly granted a restraining order to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from destroying or altering evidence. The order was lifted days later.
After both killings, Trump administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, quickly defended the actions of federal agents, calling Good and Pretti “domestic terrorists.”
Officials in Minnesota continue to press for evidence related to the killings. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said Sunday that she will send a written demand for evidence in the Pretti killing to the Department of Justice and Homeland Security.
Democrats in U.S. Congress have accused the Trump administration of attempting to execute a cover up of misconduct in the Good and Pretti killings.
Pretti’s family has called for the FBI to work with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on the investigation.
“Justice and accountability requires a thorough and impartial investigation to establish the facts,” the Pretti family said in a statement. “A truly joint state and federal investigation would be a welcome development.”