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Nicholas Enger, 17, ID'd As Teen Killed By Stray Bullet While Watching Mpls. Street Race

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Family and friends have identified the 17-year-old who was killed while watching a street race on East Lake Street over the weekend as Nicholas Enger, of Cambridge. Investigators believe he was struck by a stray bullet.

The deadly shooting happened shortly after 1:45 a.m. Sunday near East Lake Street, under the bridge that goes over Hiawatha Avenue in south Minneapolis.

Police say people in cars were "driving recklessly and spinning around" when two people got into a fight.

They started shooting each other and a stray bullet struck Enger, a bystander who had stopped to watch the cars.

Officers on the scene gave him CPR, but he later died at a hospital.

In a published obituary, family said: "Nicholas's passion was working on cars and trucks of all makes and models. When he didn't have his head 'under the hood of a car' he loved to fish and hunt and spend quality time with his family and friends. He really enjoyed making people laugh, bringing smiles to all that he met."

Enger was a student at Cambridge-Isanti High School, the school district confirmed.

"Nick was deeply committed to his friends and would stand by his friends no matter what," teacher Mary Sima said in a release. "He also had an incredible relationship with our staff and was known for his kindness."

"Nick brightened up the classroom when he entered with his outgoing positive personality and his wonderful sense of humor," teacher Linda Droubie said. "He was an absolute pleasure to work with and it was a joy to watch him mature into such an incredible young man."

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