A woman from Minnesota involved in a violent altercation on a sidewalk in downtown Minneapolis ended up driving through a crowd in an SUV, resulting in the death of a 16-year-old girl and injuries to five other individuals. The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday, with Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirming that the 22-year-old woman was apprehended on suspicion of murder shortly after the tragic events occurred. O’Hara emphasized that there was clear intent on the part of the driver to plow through the crowd, with uncertainties remaining about the potential role of alcohol in the incident.
The police chief expressed profound sorrow over the situation, labeling the video footage of the event as “absolutely horrific” and stressing the senseless loss of a young life due to the incident. Despite the tragedy, O’Hara also acknowledged that the outcome could have been even more catastrophic with the potential for additional fatalities and injuries.
Following the hit-and-run, the 16-year-old victim was transported to a hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. Another woman, aged 29, sustained severe injuries deemed life-threatening, while two 14-year-old girls and two men, aged 24 and 28, received treatment for minor injuries.
Eyewitnesses trailed the woman as she fled the scene in her vehicle, simultaneously reporting the hit-and-run to the authorities at 12:23 a.m. Officers from various law enforcement agencies managed to intercept the woman, leading to her arrest.
According to court records, the woman has prior convictions for driving with a suspended license in the previous year and for assaulting her 14-year-old sister in 2022. It remains uncertain whether her license is still under suspension.
