Police: Man Killed In Officer-Involved Shooting In North Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Police say there was a deadly officer-involved shooting early Saturday night in north Minneapolis.
The fatal shooting happened in the area of the 4700 block of Bryant Avenue North. Police say an anonymous 911 call came in just before 6:30 p.m., in which the called gave a detailed description of the suspect who was firing off a handgun. A second 911 call gave similar details, adding that the man was firing a silver 9mm handgun into the air and into the ground.
Officers arrived at the scene, and a foot chase ensued, leading to the suspect being shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
At least five city blocks were covered with crime scene tape due to the length of the foot chase. Police say the two officers involved in the shooting were wearing body-worn cameras that were activated. The number of shots fired is not clear.
The name of the vicim has not been released by authorities as of late Saturday night.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is in charge of the investigation, which is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting.
About 100 people gathered at the scene Saturday night in a peaceful protest.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released this statement Saturday night:
I want to offer words that can help ease the pain that people in every neighborhood of our city feel tonight. But at the same time, I must recognize that whatever words I come up with will fall short of that goal.
Regardless of what happened tonight – too many times, people from across Minneapolis and the Twin Cities have been stung by the pain of a life lost in the course of an encounter with law enforcement. Regardless of what happened tonight – the historical trauma inflicted on communities of color is never far from nearly every facet of our lives.
Tonight we grieve as our memories are stirred by a now too familiar feeling – by the loss of someone's son, brother, friend, and neighbor.
Events of the past several years, and now tonight, have tested our city in ways that are new to some neighborhoods but are all familiar for others. Strained relations between law enforcement officials and the communities they serve – especially communities of color – have exacted a toll on the very soul of our city, our region, and this nation.
My heart is heavy knowing that tonight in Minneapolis, we mark the beginning of another chapter in a painful history. In the days ahead I will continue working with Chief Arradondo to gather all the facts and take action as necessary.
The facts that we currently have are limited. But here is what we know now: This afternoon there was an officer-involved shooting, during which a man was killed. The officers arrived on the scene in response to two 9-1-1 calls indicating that a man was firing a silver 9mm handgun. The victim was armed, and the case has been referred to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for investigation.
At the end of the day, we know that no matter what transpired in the moments leading up to the shooting, we know with certainty that the outcome is a tragedy. To everyone hurting tonight: I'm sorry.
State Representative Ilhan Omar posted her reaction to the situation on Twitter late Saturday night.
