Minneapolis police took action Tuesday afternoon following a series of armed robberies in South Minneapolis, leading to the apprehension of six juvenile suspects. After three consecutive incidents involving gunpoint holdups and reckless fleeing vehicles, law enforcement officers from various agencies, including the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, and the State Patrol, converged on the affected neighborhoods in search of the offenders. The chain of events prompted the activation of the MPD's Crime Pattern Response Protocol, a maneuver aimed at curtailing the violent spree.
The first alert came at around 11:30 AM after a robbery at gunpoint on the 5100 block of 41 Ave S., as per a statement obtained by MPD's official release. This was soon followed by another incident in the 3400 block of Bloomington Ave, where gunshots were fired. No one was injured, and soon after, a third robbery was reported near 24th St/Pleasant Ave around 1:30 PM. The similarities between the events sparked the response protocol.
MPD officers, supported by their counterparts, identified two vehicles linked to the crimes, which led to high-speed pursuits and subsequent crashes on I-94 WB near Cedar Ave. Four suspects fled on foot from the initial crash but were quickly detained. Near the crash site, another stolen vehicle was located after having collided, with two additional suspects fleeing and later being caught, with no injuries reported from any of the three subsequent crashes.
"Our Crime Pattern Response protocol continues to be an effective strategy to quickly locate and arrest those committing crimes of violence in Minneapolis," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said in a statement, "The fact that I see this activity continuing with children so young - despite all our efforts - is incredibly frustrating and highlights the urgent need for action." The protocol's implementation was deemed necessary for swift action in light of these disturbances.
Arrested were three boys, ages 11, 12, and 13, along with two girls aged 14, and one girl aged 12. Following the crashes, the juveniles were taken to the area hospitals for evaluation of minor injuries. They are now facing booking procedures at the Juvenile Detention Center. Of the six, only the 12-year-old boy had several prior interactions with MPD. The rest had limited or no prior contact and were candidates for the juvenile diversion programs. MPD's ongoing investigation seeks to ascertain the full extent of the suspect's involvement in the reported robberies.
