MPD Increasing Patrols In North Mpls. To Combat Gun Violence
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Neighbors say the violence and fear is at an all-time high in north Minneapolis.
A mother, who didn't want to go on camera, says a group of men who don't live in her building got into a fight Thursday night playing a game of dice in the back alley.
A stray bullet sailed through her daughter's bedroom wall, hitting her in the foot.
This shooting happened on the same block where Jamar Clark was shot and killed by police last November.
And just Wednesday, a fight between two gangs resulted in the death of a 20-year-old man. Seven others were also shot.
Minneapolis police say they know who's responsible, but they haven't been arrested yet.
"It's the same number of individuals that are becoming more brazen and with more frequency out there doing their crimes," said Deputy Chief Bruce Folkens.
Recent crime stats show at least 107 people have been shot in the city this year. That's about twice as many compared to last year.
Nearly 80 percent of those shootings happened in north Minneapolis.
"All they think about is their intended target. They don't think about what's down range from them," said Folkens.
Police are now going "all hands on deck" -- bringing an additional two dozen patrols to the area beginning Friday in hopes incidents like these become less frequent.
"That's a lot of shooting and that won't be tolerated. Not by the community, not by the police department," Folkens said.
Minneapolis police have increased patrols over the last four weekends.
The department said in its first weekend of saturated enforcement, shootings decreased by almost 50 percent.
