Minneapolis, Minnesota – One person has been killed and five others injured in a shooting incident in the Seward neighborhood on the city’s south side. Minneapolis police are currently investigating the tragic event that unfolded on Franklin Avenue South between 16th and 17th Avenues South late on Monday night.
Law enforcement officers responded to a report of a shooting at around 11:30 p.m., arriving to find six individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. The chaotic scene involved at least 20 people, prompting the deployment of multiple police squads to restore order. Tragically, one of the victims, a woman, succumbed to her injuries at Hennepin Healthcare, with her identity set to be revealed at a later time.
Police officials disclosed that a man with critical injuries and two men and two women with non-life-threatening injuries were also rushed to the hospital for treatment. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the incident as a “mass shooting,” shedding light on the presence of an encampment of unhoused individuals in the vicinity, though the relationship to the shooting remains unclear.
While authorities work to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, they confirmed the recovery of a firearm near a small encampment in the area. O’Hara expressed concern over the prevalence of guns in inappropriate hands, citing the role of such weapons in triggering senseless violence that plagues many communities.
In response to the shooting, law enforcement from various precincts, including the University of Minnesota and Metro Transit Police, was mobilized to aid in the investigation. As of now, one man has been apprehended for obstruction and unrelated warrants, although it remains undisclosed whether he is connected to the shooting itself.
Minneapolis Police are urging anyone with pertinent information to contact CrimeStoppers. O’Hara emphasized the heightened vigilance around other encampments in the city, citing a surge in violent incidents, including aggravated assaults and shootings, near those locations this year. The Chief stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of both housed and unhoused individuals in the community, acknowledging that law enforcement alone cannot resolve the complex issue of homelessness.
The unfolding tragedy underscores the pressing need for comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of violence and homelessness, underscoring the importance of community-wide cooperation and support for those in need.