MINNEAPOLIS (Rajeev Sharma)— A shooting inside a downtown Minneapolis apartment building left two people dead and five others wounded Wednesday, including two police officers, before the suspected gunman also died, authorities said.
Police received a 911 call reporting gunfire shortly after 4:30 p.m. Officers arrived at the building within minutes and began searching for victims. As they moved through the property, officers heard additional shots and followed the sound to an upper floor, where they encountered conditions that severely restricted visibility.
Interim Minneapolis Police Chief Bill Peterson said officers quickly located people who had been injured. Two officers were struck by gunfire during the response — one in the leg and another twice in the abdomen. A third officer sustained injuries unrelated to gunfire.
All three officers were reported to be in stable condition and were expected to recover, according to authorities and Hennepin County Medical Center.
Two civilians died as a result of the shooting. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while another died after being taken to a hospital. The suspected shooter also died, although police had not immediately determined how the person was killed.
Authorities did not release extensive information about the suspect but said officers were familiar with the individual before Wednesday’s violence.
The shooting unfolded inside a residential building in a busy part of downtown, prompting a significant police response. Video shared online showed officers positioned outside an apartment tower with rifles pointed toward upper floors. Residents in nearby areas were advised to remain away from the scene while police secured the area.
People living in the building described a chaotic scene as the gunfire erupted.
Julius Bailey, a resident, said he was outside when he heard shots and saw a man he recognized from the building carrying a handgun. Bailey said he heard a woman screaming before fleeing the area. He estimated that he heard about eight shots.
Another resident, Chris Miller, said he heard several gunshots in quick succession and immediately left the building. Miller said he had encountered someone carrying a handgun in the building earlier in the week and had reported the incident to management.
The violence also drew a response from state and federal officials. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said state personnel were assisting local authorities and expressed support for the officers responding to the attack.
The FBI also responded to the incident. Director Kash Patel said the bureau would provide resources to assist Minneapolis authorities with the investigation.
Police had not immediately released a motive or detailed account of what led to the shooting. Investigators were expected to continue examining the scene, speaking with witnesses and determining the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.
The incident left the downtown community shaken as authorities worked to establish a complete timeline of the attack and account for everyone affected.
