FBI declines to share evidence with Minnesota BCA in three federal immigration shooting investigations

State investigators seek access as federal agencies retain control of key case materials

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) says the FBI has declined to provide investigative materials connected to three separate federal immigration enforcement shootings in Minneapolis in January 2026, limiting the state agency’s ability to conduct what it describes as independent, comprehensive reviews.

In a recent communication summarized by BCA leadership, the FBI formally refused to share information or evidence related to the Jan. 24, 2026, shooting death of Alex Pretti. The BCA simultaneously renewed requests for access in two other cases: the Jan. 7, 2026, fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good and the Jan. 14, 2026, shooting of Julio César Sosa-Celis, who was wounded.

How the Jan. 7 case set the tone for the jurisdictional dispute

The BCA has previously described a shift in the investigative structure the day Good was killed. The agency said it was initially agreed that the BCA Force Investigations Unit would investigate jointly with the FBI after consultation among local, state, and federal prosecutorial authorities and investigators. The BCA said it responded to the scene and began coordinating work, but later that day was informed that the investigation would be led solely by the FBI and that the BCA would no longer have access to essential materials, including scene evidence and investigative interviews.

After withdrawing from the Good case under those conditions, the BCA said it remained willing to reengage if full access were restored. In the meantime, the agency has indicated it could provide limited assistance focused on collecting, cataloging, and preserving video or other evidence for county prosecutors, with the stated goal of preventing loss of material.

What the BCA says it is doing now

The BCA has said its investigations into all three incidents remain ongoing and that it is exploring legal options to gain access to evidence held by federal authorities. The agency’s stated approach is to complete investigative work to the extent possible and submit its findings—without prosecutorial recommendations—to appropriate authorities for review and potential charging decisions.

• Jan. 7, 2026: Renée Nicole Good fatally shot in Minneapolis in an ICE-involved incident.
• Jan. 14, 2026: Julio César Sosa-Celis shot and wounded during an ICE-related enforcement encounter; federal authorities later opened a criminal inquiry into sworn testimony by involved officers.
• Jan. 24, 2026: Alex Pretti fatally shot during a Minneapolis protest involving federal immigration enforcement personnel.

Why access to evidence matters in use-of-force reviews

Use-of-force investigations typically rely on rapid access to physical evidence, body-worn and bystander video, scene documentation, and contemporaneous witness interviews. The BCA has argued that without comprehensive access, it cannot meet the investigative standards expected under Minnesota law for deadly-force reviews or provide the level of transparency and consistency the Force Investigations Unit was created to deliver.

The BCA has asked members of the public with relevant information about any of the three incidents to contact investigators directly.

Federal authorities have not publicly detailed what information will be shared with state or county prosecutors while the FBI-led investigations proceed. The timing for completion of the federal investigations and any subsequent charging decisions has not been publicly announced.