Trump promises a ‘big investigation’ into Pretti shooting, and Walz’s reaction is raising eyebrows

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is condemning President Trump’s promise to personally oversee a federal investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, calling the move inappropriate and counterproductive. The dispute centers on Trump’s public pledge to closely monitor the case, which Walz argues undermines established investigative norms and escalates tensions between state and federal authorities.

The situation came to light after reporting by The Hill, which detailed Trump’s remarks to reporters on Tuesday. The president said his administration would conduct a “big investigation” into the shooting and emphasized that he intended to personally watch over the process rather than delegate oversight.

Walz responded the following day, saying the president’s direct involvement was “the last thing that we want,” particularly as Minnesota officials have faced obstacles accessing the crime scene. The governor suggested the federal government’s approach has complicated efforts to conduct an independent review of the shooting.

Federal control is complicating an already tense investigation

The shooting occurred during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation carried out by the Trump administration in Minnesota, and commentary on the federal agents’ role has been in the spotlight. This comes amid other impactful political moments, like a recent mention of voters’ changing sentiment on immigration policy seen in Republicans ICE polling.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, was shot and killed by two federal agents over the weekend. The death marked the second fatal shooting by federal immigration authorities in the state in less than a month, following the January 7 killing of Renee Good, a mother of three, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

Minnesota officials say their ability to investigate the Pretti shooting has been significantly restricted. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said during a press conference last Saturday that the Department of Homeland Security blocked state investigators from entering the scene, despite the BCA having obtained a signed warrant authorizing access.

Evans said the lack of cooperation was highly unusual, noting that state agencies routinely investigate officer-involved shootings, including those involving federal agents. He explained that the BCA handles more than 80 percent of such cases nationwide and is typically asked to take the lead in these investigations, raising concerns about transparency when state authorities are excluded.

Some discussions between state and federal officials have taken place amid the standoff. Walz said he spoke with Trump by phone on Monday, during which the president indicated he would look into withdrawing federal agents from Minnesota and would contact DHS about allowing state investigators access to materials related to the Pretti case. This conversation came as other political figures publicly weighed in on related events, as seen in Marjorie Taylor Greene remarks, underscoring the broader debate.

Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also met Tuesday with Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar. Homan described the meeting as a productive starting point, and Walz acknowledged progress while cautioning that concrete action had yet to follow.

Despite those conversations, Walz said Wednesday that he has seen no evidence federal agents have begun leaving the state. He reiterated that Minnesota’s priority remains restoring normal investigative procedures and securing full access to conduct an independent review of the shooting.