Minnesota judge blocks feds from destroying evidence in Alex Pretti shooting

A federal judge blocked the U.S. administration from "destroying or altering" evidence related to the fatal shooting of a protester by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in an order late Saturday.

A federal judge in Minnesota blocked the U.S. administration from “destroying or altering evidence” related to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti.

The ruling comes after Minnesota state officials filed a lawsuit in Minnesota’s U.S. district court against officials with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies seeking a temporary restraining order that would prohibit federal officials from destroying evidence.

The lawsuit alleges evidence was taken from the scene of the shooting.

Minnesota District Judge Eric Tostrud said in the order the defendants, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary, acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer, U.S. Border Patrol commander, Attorney General and FBI director, are barred from destroying or altering evidence.

Homeland Security attempted to block Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators from collecting evidence Saturday morning. BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said they eventually received a warrant to access the shooting site.

Federal authorities also recently blocked BCA from examining evidence in the Jan. 7 ICE killing of 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement after the shooting that said Pretti "approached the agents with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun." However, witnesses say he they did not see him reaching for or holding a weapon. Videos of the shooting circulating on social media and verified by national and local outlets do not show Pretti holding any kind of weapon, either.

Another hearing on the matter is set for Monday afternoon.