ISTANBUL

 A preliminary review by the US Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog found that two federal officers fired their weapons and killed Alex Pretti during an attempted arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but did not indicate that he brandished a weapon during the encounter, according to a government notice sent to Congress.

The report, prepared by the Office of Professional Responsibility of US Customs and Border Protection, was distributed to congressional oversight committees on Tuesday, as required by law. It is based on a review of body-worn camera footage and agency records. It provides the most detailed official account yet of the Jan. 24 shooting.

The notice did not provide evidence that Pretti drew or fired a weapon at agents, nor does it back earlier claims by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that he was “brandishing” a gun or intended to cause mass harm. It also did not repeat earlier characterizations from federal officials that Pretti intended to “do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.”

Pretti was transported to a local hospital after the shooting, and pronounced dead. Minneapolis officials have said video evidence contradicts parts of the government’s initial narrative, and state authorities have expressed frustration that DHS personnel blocked them from accessing the scene to investigate.

The incident has heightened tensions in Minneapolis, where Pretti’s death followed another fatal shooting of a US citizen by federal agents earlier this month. Calls for independent investigations and accountability have grown as local and state leaders question the handling of evidence and federal cooperation.

Top Trump aide acknowledges possible protocol breach ahead of shooting

Meanwhile, top White House aide Stephen Miller told CNN that authorities were examining why a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) unit in Minneapolis “may not have been following” proper procedures prior to the fatal shooting.

The White House instructed the DHS that the additional personnel sent to the US state of Minnesota for force protection were intended to focus on fugitive operations and to help form a physical barrier between arrest teams and protesters, Miller stated in a statement.

"We are evaluating why the CBP team may not have been following that protocol," he added.

Miller's comment marked an important shift on how the administration has publicly discussed Pretti's shooting so far.