Federal investigators interview key witness to Alex Pretti shooting, attorneys say

A main witness to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents was interviewed Wednesday as part of what her attorneys say is a federal investigation into the agents involved.

The U.S. Department of Justice in January announced it was conducting a federal civil rights investigation into Pretti’s killing, but the status of that or any other possible federal investigation has been unclear.

Attorneys for Wynnie Savageford, who met with federal investigators at the Minneapolis federal courthouse Wednesday, say the interview indicates that a federal investigation is under way.

Savageford gave investigators an account of what she saw during the Jan. 24 confrontation that ended with Pretti’s death. According to Savageford, who previously recounted that day in a March press conference, she was legally observing ICE sightings in the Whittier neighborhood and was pushed to the ground by an agent after asking to see a warrant. She was later arrested and taken into a federal vehicle.

Savageford said Pretti recorded her arrest and yelled at agents to leave her alone. Shortly after, she said she was in the vehicle when she witnessed agents kill Pretti.

“January 24th was a life-changing, traumatic day for her,” said Trisha Pohland, an attorney representing Savageford. “I'm very happy she is now able to talk about it and to share her story so that we can let everyone know what exactly these agents did that day and to hold them accountable for their actions.”

Savageford did not speak publicly after the DOJ interview on Wednesday afternoon. Her attorneys say they’re hopeful the agents will be held accountable.

“We feel great after today,” said Pohland. “Wynnie was so brave. She gave such good testimony, very detailed, very concise. I believe that they'll have enough information where they hopefully don't need to call her in for a grand jury.”

The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request to confirm it is conducting an investigation on the agents. Savageford’s legal team says the FBI conducted the interview and members of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney’s Office were also present.

The attorneys negotiated for her to do an interview with the Justice Department instead of having her testify before a grand jury. James Cook, another attorney representing Savageford, said that allowed her lawyers to be with her during questioning.

“We want to make sure that any of the people that we represent don’t have to answer questions before the government on their own,” he said.

Savageford was held at a federal detention facility after the shooting. Her attorneys say she was searched and treated as though she were an immigration detainee, despite being a U.S. citizen.

Poland said Savageford’s experience gave her a glimpse into what immigrant detainees experience in federal custody.

“Listening to what happened to Wynnie after she was taken away in the car, taken to a warehouse, taken to Whipple — the way she was searched, the way all her rights were violated, the way she was chained up — I mean, that all was familiar,” Pohland said.

Cook said other witnesses may also be interviewed as the federal investigation continues. He hopes to eventually identify and question the agents involved.

“I hope that this means that the officers or the agents who killed Pretti will be brought to justice,” Cook said. “I would like to see a full trial of these agents, going forward.”

The attorneys are also pursuing civil claims related to the federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota and representing others arrested during demonstrations.

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