Downtown Minneapolis shooting kills two, wounds five including two officers

A gunman opened fire inside a downtown Minneapolis apartment building on Wednesday, killing two people and wounding five others, including two police officers.

Gunman kills two in Minneapolis apartment building, officers among the wounded

Gunfire erupted inside a downtown Minneapolis apartment building on Wednesday afternoon, leaving three people dead — including the suspect — and five others wounded by gunfire, authorities said. Two of the wounded were Minneapolis police officers.

According to wdbj7.com, a 911 call reporting shots fired at the building came in just after 4:30 p.m. Officers arrived and were inside the building in under two minutes, where they quickly encountered victims, said Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson.

As officers moved through the building, they heard further gunshots and followed them to an upper floor, where they encountered "a haze that significantly limited their visibility," Peterson said. He did not elaborate on the nature of the haze.

One officer sustained a gunshot wound to the leg; a second was shot twice in the abdomen. Both, along with a third officer who suffered non-gunshot injuries, are in stable condition at Hennepin County Medical Center, where officials confirmed all three are expected to make a full recovery.

Of the civilian victims, one was fatally shot at the scene and one died after being transported to hospital. Police Sgt. Garrett Parten said it was not immediately clear how the suspected shooter died. Authorities declined to identify the suspect but confirmed they had prior knowledge of the individual.

"I'm truly sickened by this level of violence," Peterson said. "That feeling is tempered only by the courageous actions of the Minneapolis police officers, who responded without hesitation, confronted an extraordinarily dangerous situation and worked to end the violence and restore safety."

Hennepin County Medical Center said it received seven patients in total but did not provide further details on their conditions.

Residents of the building described the moment the shooting began. Julius Bailey, who was sitting outside when the incident unfolded, said he saw a man he recognised as a fellow resident holding a pistol. Bailey counted eight shots and heard a woman screaming before he ran. He said the man had a reputation for displaying his weapon and that he had deliberately kept his distance from him since moving into the building in June. "I could tell he was trouble," Bailey said.

Another resident, Chris Miller, said he heard a rapid succession of gunshots and ran outside. He told reporters he believed he knew the shooter's identity and that he had reported to building management earlier in the week after encountering a man carrying a handgun in the hallway.

Video circulated on social media showing officers aiming rifles upward toward an apartment tower near the Minneapolis Convention Center. Officials urged residents to avoid the surrounding Loring Park neighbourhood.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said state officials were on the ground supporting local law enforcement. "Grateful to law enforcement actively working to ensure the safety of our neighbours in Downtown Minneapolis this afternoon," he wrote on social media. "Minnesota is praying for our first responders."

FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was responding to the scene and would "offer any and all resources necessary to assist local authorities," in a post on X.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)