Minneapolis was shaken by an overnight shooting that left one dead and two injured, according to the city's Police Chief Brian O'Hara. In a statement that was released by City of Minneapolis, the incident occurred early at around 2:38 a.m. Officers heard gunshots near the intersection of 5th Street Southeast and 13th Avenue Southeast, quickly followed by the discovery of two males with gunshot wounds. A third victim was found in an alley behind 4th Street Southeast, also suffering from gunshot injuries.
The response of the Minneapolis police was swift and aimed to immediately mitigate the harm. Officers stepped in to provide medical aid, which included CPR and applying tourniquets to the victims. Despite these efforts, one male at the intersection was pronounced dead at the scene, while the others, an adult male and a juvenile, were rushed to the hospital and appeared to luckily sustain non-life-threatening injuries. Three firearms were recovered at the scene; with one found on the deceased male. Investigations are ongoing to determine the ownership of the other two handguns and what exactly led to this violent outbreak.
Chief O'Hara praised the responding officers for their courage and prompt actions. "This was a very chaotic and dangerous situation, and I commend the officers who ran toward the gunfire in an effort to save lives," he said in the bulletin. Additionally, O'Hara outlined the department's action plan including an immediate increase in police presence in the neighborhood, to reassure the community that safety is their priority.
Meanwhile, forensic scientists have processed the crime scene, collecting evidence to aid the investigation. Minneapolis investigators are thoroughly reviewing surveillance footage, canvassing for witnesses, conducting interviews, and are actively following up on leads to unmask the full story behind the shooting. Anyone with information has been encouraged to reach out to MPD through various channels offered, including email and a CrimeStoppers tip line for anonymous submissions. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office is set to release the name of the deceased along with the official cause and manner of death in due course.
