Minnesota prosecutors obtain long withheld evidence in investigation into protest shooting deaths

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota prosecutors announced Monday that they have obtained key evidence in their ongoing investigations into fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during pitched protests against a federal immigration enforcement crackdown in the state earlier this year. [KSAT 12]

Federal authorities released long-withheld evidence Monday to Minnesota prosecutors investigating two fatal shootings that occurred during aggressive immigration enforcement operations in the state earlier this year.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced that investigators had obtained hard drives containing witness statements, body camera footage and other materials related to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Authorities also turned over Good's severely damaged vehicle, which had been held by federal officials. The evidence had been unavailable to state investigators for months despite repeated requests.

Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot in her vehicle on Jan. 7 while departing an anti-immigration enforcement demonstration in Minneapolis. Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, was killed by federal officers on Jan. 24 during another protest against the enforcement campaign. The two deaths, combined with at least seven other killings tied to the immigration crackdown, generated national attention and prompted calls for stricter oversight of enforcement activities. A third individual, Julio Sosa-Celis, was also shot during the operations, though details about that incident were not provided.

"The wonderful thing now is we have all the evidence," Moriarty said. "Any time the government is responsible in whatever way of taking the life of a community member we need to have a full and thorough investigation."

The releases came as Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison expressed frustration with the federal government's handling of the materials. "It should never have taken this long for Minnesota law enforcement to gain access to the federal" evidence, Ellison said, noting the delay had extended beyond six months. In late June, Ellison and Moriarty sought to extend court deadlines in their lawsuit against the Justice Department, citing newly reopened discussions with FBI officials about information sharing.

The federal immigration enforcement initiative, which concluded in February after intensive operations throughout the state, did not result in any criminal charges related to the deaths despite investigations by state prosecutors.