MINNEAPOLIS — A violent stretch of shootings across Minneapolis left two people dead and 13 others injured between Thursday afternoon and Sunday night, capping a weekend that included two separate mass shootings less than a day apart.
The incidents occurred in north Minneapolis, Uptown and south Minneapolis. While investigators continue to examine each case, Minneapolis police said there is currently no evidence linking Sunday’s two mass shootings.
The first shooting happened shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the 200 block of 27th Avenue North.
According to the Minneapolis Police Department, officers responded to reports of a person shot and found a man suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds outside. Officers immediately began lifesaving efforts before paramedics transported him to North Memorial Health, where he later died.
Investigators said preliminary evidence indicates an argument over property between two men escalated into gunfire. Officers arrested a suspect near 30th Avenue North and Washington Avenue North less than 20 minutes after being dispatched. The suspect was booked into the Hennepin County Jail, and homicide investigators continue to determine the full sequence of events.
Violence escalated again early Sunday when gunfire erupted outside the Reign Event Center in Uptown.
Police were called to the 2900 block of Hennepin Avenue shortly before 12:30 a.m. after reports of multiple people being shot. Officers arrived in less than one minute and requested assistance from every Minneapolis precinct because of the large crowd and number of victims.
Nine adults between the ages of 18 and 27 were wounded. Two men suffered potentially life-threatening injuries while the remaining victims were expected to survive. Several victims transported themselves to area hospitals after the shooting.
Investigators believe the shooting followed an altercation outside the event center and are examining whether shots were fired from a vehicle. No arrests have been announced.
Mayor Jacob Frey described the Uptown shooting as intolerable and renewed calls for additional public safety resources, including hiring more officers and expanding technologies such as drones and ShotSpotter.
Less than 20 hours later, officers responded to another multiple shooting, this time outside a business in the 1800 block of Nicollet Avenue.
Police found four injured men at the scene. Three were transported to Hennepin Healthcare, where a 28-year-old man later died from his injuries. Another victim was taken to North Memorial Health, and a fifth man later arrived at Hennepin Healthcare on his own with a gunshot wound.
Homicide investigators believe the five men were shot outside the business but have not announced any arrests. Police also emphasized there is currently no known connection between the Nicollet Avenue shooting and the earlier shooting outside the Reign Event Center.
In total, the three incidents left 15 people shot, including two fatalities, over a four-day period.
The Minneapolis Police Department is asking anyone with information about any of the shootings to contact investigators by calling 612-673-5845 or emailing policetips@minneapolismn.gov. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through CrimeStoppers.
Police continue investigating all three cases.
