2 killed and suspect dead after apartment block shooting in downtown Minneapolis
Two police officers were also struck during the shooting in the Loring Park neighborhood.
Two people were killed and six wounded, including three police officers, in a shooting in a downtown Minneapolis apartment building.
The suspected gunman was also killed, although Sgt. Garrett Parten did not give any details at a press conference in the city on Wednesday evening. Two of the officers received gunshot wounds during the violence and all three remain in stable condition.
Minneapolis police rushed to the Loring Park neighborhood shortly after 4:30 p.m. local time Wednesday in response to the shooting. Officers arrived on the scene within three minutes and found the victims when they entered the building.
“This is a tremendously tragic event and our thoughts and prayers are with the families, the loved ones of those who lost their lives, those who were injured and with the injured officers and their families,” Parten said.
One of the victims died at the scene and the other died at the hospital.
“It was pop-pop-pop-pop and it was a bunch more after that, and then I went upstairs,” witness Anthony Strong told The Minnesota Star Tribune. Strong said he was smoking behind the apartment building when shots rang out.
Hospital officials confirmed the number and conditions of shooting victims to the Associated Press. Their identities are unknown.
One officer was shot in the leg and another in the stomach, according to reports. The current condition of the officers remains unclear.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wrote on X that city cops were working with Minnesota State Patrol and other local law enforcement agencies and urged people to avoid the area.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said his public safety team was also responding to the shooting.
“State officials are on the ground to support local law enforcement and we will share more information as it becomes available,” the Democrat wrote on X Wednesday evening.
Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded.
Authorities have yet to reveal a motive for the shooting.
In a follow-up post, Walz said he was “grateful to law enforcement actively working to ensure the safety of our neighbors in Downtown Minneapolis this afternoon.
“Minnesota is praying for our first responders.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said in an X post that the bureau was “aware of the shooting in Minneapolis involving law enforcement and our personnel are responding — we will offer any and all resources necessary to assist local authorities.”
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who is a Republican candidate for governor, wrote on X, “I am aware of reports regarding a shooting in downtown Minneapolis.
“I am praying for the victims of this heinous crime, and I'm incredibly thankful for the massive response of our brave law enforcement officers.”