Maine shooting investigationGiven the high-profile nature of the shooting, which was widely covered by news outlets, and the questions surrounding the officer's decision to open fire multiple times, civil rights legal experts say the FBI and the Civil Rights Division would usually take the lead on conducting a criminal civil rights investigation in a case like this one. The U.S. takes seriously any referral of a civil rights violation, and we will work with law enforcement and OIGs to properly and fully review credible allegations of violations of civil rights law," the official added. After a public outcry, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche agreed to open a criminal civil rights inquiry into Pretti's death. In such cases, the FBI typically conducts the investigation, and the bureau has squads that are specialized to handle civil rights criminal cases. The Civil Rights Division's criminal section has handled some of the nation's most high-profile color-of-law cases involving excessive force by police.