Hennepin County and state prosecutors announced Monday they have received previously withheld federal evidence in their investigations into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the wounding of Julio Sosa-Celis during January protests tied to federal immigration enforcement operations.
Evidence released by federal partners
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the material includes hard drives containing witness statements and hours of body-worn camera footage, as well as some physical items that had not been available to local investigators earlier — notably Good’s damaged car.
“Through the cooperation of our federal partners we have obtained the hard drives of previously withheld evidence in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis,” Moriarty said.
Investigators from the county and state are reviewing the newly received files and items. Moriarty framed the transfer as a step toward transparency and accountability, saying the community and the justice system need full access to the material.
What investigators now have
- Hard drives with statements and hours of body-worn camera video
- Physical evidence previously kept by federal authorities, including a vehicle driven by one victim
- Additional materials expected to be examined in the coming days
The evidence pertains to two separate incidents earlier this year. Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed while leaving an anti-immigration enforcement protest in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot and killed weeks later, on Jan. 24, during another demonstration. Julio Sosa-Celis was shot and survived.
| Victim | Age | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renee Good | 37 | Jan. 7 | Minneapolis |
| Alex Pretti | 37 | Jan. 24 | Minneapolis area |
| Julio Sosa-Celis | Jan. (wounding) |
Legal and political context
The evidence release follows ongoing disputes between Minnesota officials and federal authorities over access to materials related to the incidents. At the end of June, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Moriarty asked a federal judge to extend deadlines in their lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, citing renewed discussions with the FBI about information sharing. Prosecutors said those talks could affect the state’s request for summary judgment in the case.
Local leaders and activists have pressed for full disclosure since the shootings, arguing that transparent review is necessary for public trust and accountability. The newly obtained materials will be central to the state and county inquiries into whether the use of force was lawful and whether any criminal charges are warranted.
Investigators are now cataloging and reviewing the hard drives and physical evidence. Prosecutors did not announce a timeline for charging decisions or further public disclosures. As the review proceeds, the outcome will have implications for intergovernmental cooperation on sensitive cases and for public confidence in investigations of law enforcement actions during large-scale federal operations.
The developments underscore ongoing tensions around federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and the scrutiny such operations draw when protests flare into violence. The transfer of evidence may also influence the pending litigation with the Justice Department and the pace at which state officials can resolve the criminal investigations.
Reporting for this article relied on statements from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and public filings by state officials.
