More Than 60 Minnesota CEOs Urge Immediate De-Escalation After Shootings
More than 60 CEOs posted an open letter Jan. 25 urging immediate de‑escalation after the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of Alex Pretti.
Overview
More than 60 Minnesota CEOs posted an open letter on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce website Jan. 25, a chamber official confirmed, calling for immediate de-escalation after recent federal-agent shootings.
The letter follows the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti and the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good, incidents that spurred protests and drew conflicting accounts from officials.
A Target spokesman confirmed incoming Target CEO Michael Fiddelke, who begins Feb. 1, signed the chamber letter but declined further comment on the letter or federal immigration operations.
Signatories included William Brown of 3M, Corie Barry of Best Buy, Jeff Harmening of General Mills, Stephen Helmsley of UnitedHealth Group, Michael Fiddelke of Target, and leaders at Cargill and U.S. Bancorp.
The letter urged state, local and federal officials to 'work together to find real solutions' so families, businesses and employees can resume work, and it said CEOs will continue engagement with public officials.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report neutrally, emphasizing facts and direct source material rather than editorializing. The piece cites the CEOs’ open letter verbatim, notes protests and economic impacts, and references a lawsuit and business responses. Language is descriptive (e.g., 'open letter,' 'protests,' 'sales drops') and presents multiple viewpoints without loaded evaluation.
Sources (7)
FAQ
On January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was shot and killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents during a confrontation amid protests against federal immigration operations. Videos show him recording with his phone, intervening to protect a woman from pepper spray, being wrestled to the ground, and then shot multiple times after agents discovered his legally permitted handgun.
Renee Nicole Good was killed by federal officers on January 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. Her death, like Pretti's on January 24, involved a fatal shooting by federal agents, sparking protests and conflicting accounts, which prompted the CEOs' call for de-escalation.
DHS claims Pretti approached agents with a 9mm handgun, resisted disarmament, and intended to 'massacre law enforcement.' Local officials, witnesses, and videos indicate he had a valid permit, no criminal record, was recording with his phone, protecting others, and was not visibly reaching for his weapon when shot.
Signatories included William Brown of 3M, Corie Barry of Best Buy, Jeff Harmening of General Mills, Stephen Hemsley of UnitedHealth Group, Michael Fiddelke of Target, and leaders from Cargill and U.S. Bancorp.
History
4 sources