Unraveling the truth behind the shooting death of Alex Preti in Minneapolis
Videos taken by witnesses did not show Alex Preti holding a gun before he was shot and killed by federal agents.
After weeks of protests and pressure from clergy and shoppers, Target’s incoming CEO Michael Fidelke on Sunday signed an open letter from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce calling for an “immediate de-escalation” of tensions following the shooting death of a man by federal agents in Minneapolis.
The letter, released Jan. 25 on behalf of more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies, said the companies also called on “state, local and federal authorities to work together to find real solutions” in the wake of the shooting death of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, which sparked protests in the city and across the country.
“For generations, we have worked to build a strong and vibrant state here in Minnesota, and we intend to do so with equal and even greater commitment in the months and years to come,” the letter says. “During this difficult time for our communities, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state, and federal leaders to achieve quick and lasting solutions so that families, businesses, employees, and communities across Minnesota can resume their efforts to build a bright and prosperous future.”
Fidelke will begin his new role as Target’s CEO on February 1, after previously serving as Chief Operating Officer. According to a press release shared with USA TODAY, Target’s involvement in the letter comes shortly after a small delegation of Twin Cities clergy met with Target Corporation’s current CEO Brian Cornell and expressed concerns about “the growing harm caused by the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal law enforcement agencies in Minnesota and across the nation.”
Minnesota and its most populous city, Minneapolis, have seen a large influx of federal agents from multiple law enforcement agencies since early January, with officials arriving to shore up the Trump administration’s immigration and deportation efforts. Federal authorities were also dispatched to other major cities, including Los Angeles. Portland, Oregon. Charlotte, North Carolina. And Chicago.
Tensions escalated in the Minneapolis area after ICE agents shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Goode on January 7th. The incident quickly sparked protests across the United States, and Preeti’s death on January 24 heightened the backlash. ICE shootings have also occurred in both Portland and Chicago, including the death of immigrant Silverio Villegas Gonzalez.
Earlier this month, federal agents along with U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino publicly detained two Target agents in Litchfield, Minnesota. In the weeks following ICE’s arrival in Litchfield detention, religious leaders and clergy held outdoor press conferences and staged a sit-in inside Target’s headquarters.
Some of those faith leaders met with Target’s outgoing CEO Cornell on January 22 and urged the company to take action on four specific demands:
- The target is using its national voice and influence to demand that ICE leave Minnesota.
- That the federal agents responsible for the murder of Renee Goode be held accountable and prosecuted.
- Its targets are companies committed to being Fourth Amendment compliant, combating unreasonable searches and seizures, and encouraging other companies to do the same.
- Its targets have publicly called on Congress to end funding for ICE through the Department of Homeland Security.
The news release said that while Clergy and Target shared concerns for the safety of employees and customers, “Target cannot agree to these demands to address the crisis affecting our community, and their inaction on the above demands lacks the urgency needed at this time.”
“We remain hopeful that our ongoing dialogue with Target will yield meaningful results in the near future, and we urge other corporate leaders to join us in this important dialogue,” the release said. “Until then, we remain steadfast in our organizing and call on Target and all Minnesota-based businesses to step forward as advocates for justice and use their voices and influence to help transform the current harms plaguing our state and nation.”
The clergy did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for further comment. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce confirmed to USA TODAY that the letter was released around noon Central Time, about an hour after the clergy’s letter was released, but declined to comment further.
A spokesperson for Target also confirmed to USA TODAY that the incoming CEO signed the floor letter and declined to comment further on matters related to Target and ICE operations or protests.
More broadly, Target has staged similar protests over the past year after scaling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to 2025. Black faith community leaders have called on their followers to boycott Target since scaling back its DEI efforts and held a series of peaceful protests outside the store, particularly on May 25, the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder.
USA TODAY’s Betty Lin-Fisher contributed to this report.
Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or X @katecperez_.
