MINNEAPOLIS — Authorities in Minneapolis are investigating two related shooting incidents occurring three blocks apart, which have resulted in four deaths and left two individuals critically injured. The incidents, which have stirred significant concern due to their suspected gang affiliations, involve victims who are believed to be Native Americans. The shootings have profoundly impacted the Indigenous community in the Phillips area, just south of downtown Minneapolis.
The first incident occurred late Tuesday evening, claiming the lives of three individuals. The second shooting transpired near 1 p.m. on Wednesday, leading to another fatality. During the latter shooting, a bullet narrowly missed two young children who were seated in a nearby vehicle, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
Investigators are actively attempting to determine connections between the two occurrences. Details regarding gang involvement or potential motives remain speculative as the investigation is still in its early phases, and no arrests have been made so far.
“There is an undeniable concern from the community as both instances occurred just blocks apart,” Chief O’Hara remarked during a news conference. “Our duty is to follow the evidence, avoiding speculation at this point.”
These tragic events follow a period of decreased violence in Minneapolis, a city that, like many others, experienced a crime surge during the COVID-19 pandemic after the 2020 killing of George Floyd by a member of the Minneapolis police force. Fortunately, last year crime rates began to taper off, with the city witnessing its longest stretch without a murder in a decade, lasting until a recent homicide on April 19.
At the news briefing, Mayor Jacob Frey expressed grief on behalf of the city, stating, “Our city is deeply mourning right now, with the trauma hitting our Native community especially hard.”
The Tuesday night assault left four individuals hit by gunfire while in a vehicle and another on the nearby sidewalk. Tragically, a 20-year-old woman, 17-year-old boy, and 27-year-old man succumbed to their injuries. A 28-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman sustained critical injuries, with the man remaining in a grave condition by Wednesday afternoon.
Wednesday’s shooting took place outside a building housing the Minneapolis offices of the Red Lake Nation tribe, resulting in the death of a man in his 30s. A particularly distressing aspect of this incident was that a bullet passed dangerously close to an infant and a toddler seated in child seats within a nearby vehicle.
Chief O’Hara reiterated earlier assertions that the first shooting’s victims were deliberately targeted, hinting at possible gang ties. However, it remains unclear whether these shootings have any connection to another nearby incident where an individual with non-life-threatening injuries was admitted to a hospital overnight.
To conclude, O’Hara called upon the public for assistance, emphasizing the unified effort required to address this violence. “We urge everyone to stand together against this menace,” he appealed. “Law enforcement is committed to bringing all responsible parties to justice in both incidents.”