Gunfire could be heard throughout a downtown Minneapolis apartment complex Wednesday as police reacted to an active shooting that killed three people, including the suspect, and injured five others, according to authorities.
Two Minneapolis police officers were among the five wounded by gunshot, while another officer had additional injuries, according to police Sgt. Garrett Parten at a news conference. The three cops are in stable condition, according to Hennepin County Medical Center.
A 911 report about shots fired at the building arrived shortly after 4:30 p.m. Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson stated that officers were alerted and arrived inside the building in less than two minutes, where they soon discovered victims.
Officers heard additional gunshots and pursued them to a higher floor, where they discovered “a haze that significantly limited their visibility,” he said. Peterson did not provide any additional information on the smog.
One officer was shot in the leg, while another was hit twice in the belly, he said. He predicted that all three injured officers would recover completely.
Authorities did not disclose any information about the alleged shooter, but stated that they were familiar with him prior to the attack.
“I’m truly sickened by this level of violence,” Peterson remarked. “That feeling is tempered only by the courageous actions of the Minneapolis police officers, who responded without hesitation, confronted an extraordinarily dangerous situation and worked to end the violence and restore safety.”
According to him, one of the victims was killed on the scene, and another died after being transported to the hospital.
Parten stated that it was not immediately obvious how the shooter died.
Hennepin County Medical Center reported receiving seven patients but did not provide any information about their ailments.
Julius Bailey was sitting outside his apartment building when he heard gunshots and spotted a man he recognized as a tenant clutching a firearm. Bailey stated that he heard a woman scream and instantly began sprinting away. He claimed he counted eight shots.
Bailey claimed he knew the man with the gun because he was renowned for flaunting his firearm. Bailey stated that he had tried to avoid the man since moving into the building in June.
“I could tell he was trouble,” he explained.
Chris Miller, who also lives in the apartment building, said he heard a series of gunshots and went outside for safety. He claimed he knew who carried out the shooting and that he saw someone in the corridor with a weapon earlier this week and reported them to management.
A video uploaded on social media showed police aiming firearms at an apartment complex near the Minneapolis Convention Center. Officials advised folks to avoid the densely crowded Loring Park neighborhood nearby.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said in a social media post that state officials were on the scene assisting local law enforcement in responding to the shooting.
“Grateful to law enforcement actively working to ensure the safety of our neighbors in Downtown Minneapolis this afternoon,” Walz stated. “Minnesota is praying for our first responders.”
Leave a Reply