A person was injured in a Bloomington shooting early Tuesday. Police linked the shooting to Somali gang activity. It was initially investigated as a drive-by.
Police linked the shooting to Somali gang activity, according to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul. Bring Me The News reported that police were investigating an overnight shooting in a Bloomington neighborhood. Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges was joined at a regional law enforcement briefing by Eden Prairie Police Chief Matt Sackett, Edina Police Chief Todd Milburn and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt.
Recent Gunfire in the Southwest Metro
The Bloomington shooting followed recent gun violence in the region. On October 2, a shooting during Eden Prairie High School's homecoming football game against Minnetonka injured two Somali teenagers, ages 17 and 18, from St. Paul, per the City of Eden Prairie. An altercation preceded the shooting, and the game was expected to resume Monday.
Then, on the evening of October 5, shots were fired at a Speedway gas station near Highway 5 in Eden Prairie, about a mile from the high school. Police detained four people after the shooting. No injuries were reported.
Edina leaders held a public safety town hall on October 5 following recent shootings, including gunfire near Our Lady of Grace church and school in late September, according to Alpha News. At the meeting, Edina Police Chief Milburn discussed continuing community partnerships.
Some Commenters Object to the Word 'Somali'
Some Somali and East African commenters objected to officials’ use of the word “Somali” and expressed concern about stereotyping.
In August, agreements and court orders involving alleged members of rival groups known as The Ville and Muddy restricted their movements in a designated Safety Zone during the State Fair, from August 27 through September 8, according to the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. The release also described alleged or reported incidents at a high school graduation, a university graduation, the State Fair and other venues.
Who's Leading the Response
Sheriff Witt took office in January 2023 as Hennepin County's first female sheriff and first sheriff of color, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. Her background includes extensive work in juvenile justice, mental health interventions, and school resource officer roles in suburban Hennepin and Dakota counties.
Hodges is Bloomington's police chief, according to the City of Bloomington.
