In a historic legal showdown between state and federal power, the State of Minnesota filed a federal lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. The complaint alleges that federal authorities are illegally obstructing state investigations into three separate shootings by federal agents—two of them fatal—that occurred in Minneapolis this past January.
The lawsuit, filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, and BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, marks a boiling point in the fallout from “Operation Metro Surge,” a massive immigration enforcement action launched in late 2025.
Three Shootings, Zero Cooperation
The complaint details a three-week period in January 2026 where federal agents allegedly killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and wounded Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
According to court documents, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother and poet, was shot and killed in her car on January 7. While federal and state investigators initially agreed to a joint probe, the lawsuit claims federal officials “quickly reneged,” seizing evidence and barring state agents from interviews.
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The situation escalated during the January 24 killing of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse. The filing alleges that federal agents physically blocked Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) investigators from the scene, even after state officials obtained a judicial warrant.
“Crooked” Officials and Blocked Evidence
The plaintiffs argue that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have broken decades of cooperative precedent. The lawsuit highlights public statements from federal leadership as the catalyst for the standoff.
“They [Minnesota] don’t have any jurisdiction,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is quoted as saying in the complaint. The filing also references statements by President Trump, who allegedly claimed there would be no cooperation because Minnesota officials were “crooked.”
The state claims vital evidence is being withheld or mishandled, including:
- The vehicle where Renee Good was killed, which the FBI reportedly has under shrink-wrap in a storage facility.
- The identities of masked agents involved in the shootings.
- Personal items belonging to the deceased, such as cell phones.
The lawsuit also points to a photograph posted by President Trump on Truth Social showing a firearm allegedly belonging to Alex Pretti. The plaintiffs argue the photo shows the weapon sitting unprotected on a car seat, raising concerns about the “spoliation” and improper handling of evidence.
The Constitutional Clash
At the heart of the suit is the Tenth Amendment, which reserves police powers to the states. Minnesota officials argue they have a sovereign duty to investigate homicides within their borders, regardless of whether the shooter wears a federal badge.
“The States retain the sovereign authority—and responsibility—to investigate crimes committed within their borders,” the complaint reads.
The plaintiffs are asking a judge to declare the federal government’s policy of non-cooperation unlawful and to force the DOJ and DHS to hand over all requested evidence and allow access to witnesses.
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