The tragic shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24, has created deep divisions across the internet, with even prominent venture capital firms finding themselves embroiled in the controversy. In an unusual display of public disagreement, partners at Khosla Ventures engaged in heated exchanges on social media throughout the weekend regarding the incident.
Internal Discord at Khosla Ventures
As technology executives and industry leaders condemned the killing of the 37-year-old nurse, three key figures from the venture capital firm openly clashed over the actions of federal law enforcement. This internal conflict represents a rare moment of public disagreement within the typically unified venture capital community.
Keith Rabois' Controversial Defense
The discord was ignited by partner Keith Rabois, who appears to be a staunch supporter of the Trump administration. His defense of the Border Patrol agents involved in the shooting drew immediate and sharp criticism from his own colleagues. Rabois took to X (formerly Twitter) to argue that Pretti was at fault, stating in multiple posts that "no law enforcement has shot an innocent person" and that "illegals are committing violent crimes everyday."
In his social media commentary, Rabois further elaborated his position, writing: "no i agree that these are felons. it is not racist to oppose criminals" and "absolute BS. but it doesn't matter, hey drive up rents and consume health care and tax $". He also noted that "legal immigrants are great" while maintaining that Pretti had "unequivocally attempted to draw his weapon."
Colleagues Distance Themselves
Partner Ethan Choi quickly responded to Rabois' comments, publicly distancing himself and the firm from the statements. "I want to make it clear that Keith doesn't represent everyone's views at Khosla Ventures... at least not mine. What happened in Minnesota is plain wrong. Sad to see a person's life taken unnecessarily," Choi posted on social media.
Founder Vinod Khosla amplified this position by resharing Choi's post and adding his own stinging assessment. Khosla described the federal agents as "macho ICE vigilantes" and criticized what he called "storytelling without facts or with invented fictitious facts by authorities." He emphasized that "there is politics but humanity should transcend that" in his condemnation of the incident.
Broader Industry Reaction
Meanwhile, a coalition of more than 60 CEOs from Minnesota's largest companies, including corporate giants like Target, 3M, and UnitedHealth Group, signed a letter urging "immediate de-escalation" of the situation. Several other prominent Silicon Valley figures also took to social media to denounce the federal agents' actions, indicating widespread concern within the technology and business communities about law enforcement practices.
The public disagreement at Khosla Ventures highlights how deeply divisive the Minneapolis shooting has become, even within organizations that typically present a united front. The incident has sparked conversations about immigration policy, law enforcement accountability, and the role of business leaders in addressing social issues.
