Two civilians and the suspected shooter died as gunfire injured multiple people, including three Minneapolis police officers.
MINNEAPOLIS — Three people, including a suspected shooter, are dead after gunfire erupted Wednesday afternoon at a high-rise apartment building near downtown Minneapolis, leaving several others injured and drawing a large response from police and other law enforcement agencies.
Police were sent to the area of 15 E. Grant St. in the Loring Park neighborhood shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sept. 2. The initial 911 report indicated that one person had been shot, but additional calls soon reported more gunfire. Officers entered the apartment building and found multiple victims before hearing shots coming from an upper floor, authorities said. By Wednesday night, officials said the scene had been secured and there was no continuing threat to the public.
Minneapolis police public information officer Garrett Parten said officers reached the building within minutes of the first call. As officers moved farther into the high-rise, they followed the sound of gunfire toward an upper level, where authorities said they encountered a haze that significantly reduced visibility. Two officers were shot during the response, while a third officer suffered a separate injury. One of the wounded officers required surgery Wednesday evening.
One civilian who had been shot was pronounced dead at the scene, while another died after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, according to the city. Three other civilians who suffered gunshot wounds were being treated at the hospital Wednesday night. The suspected shooter also died at the scene. Minneapolis police had not publicly identified the suspected shooter or the two people who were killed as of late Wednesday.
Authorities said the circumstances of the suspected shooter’s death remained officially undetermined Wednesday night. Police also had not announced a motive or explained what led to the initial gunfire inside the apartment building. Although some local reports cited law enforcement sources regarding the suspected shooter’s identity and manner of death, Minneapolis police had not publicly confirmed those details.
The shooting also affected additional officers who were responding to the emergency. City officials said four officers experienced adverse effects after exposure to an unknown airborne substance at the scene. Two other officers were injured when their squad vehicle was involved in a crash while responding. Officials had not publicly identified the substance encountered inside the building.
The scale of the incident brought officers and investigators from across the Twin Cities area. Agencies assisting Minneapolis police included the Minnesota State Patrol, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minneapolis Park Police, St. Paul Police Department, University of Minnesota Police Department and police departments from several nearby communities. The FBI also assisted, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was involved in the investigative response.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said responding officers moved through the building while facing significant danger, helping victims and getting people to safety. Police Chief Bill Peterson described the shooting as a tragic event that had affected residents, police officers, first responders and the broader community. Officials thanked neighboring law enforcement agencies for responding while Minneapolis officers handled the shooting scene.
The shooting caused a major emergency response around Loring Park and the southern edge of downtown during the evening rush. Authorities initially urged people to stay away from an area stretching from 12th Street to Franklin Avenue and from Hennepin Avenue to Third Avenue South. Police later said the scene was secure. Central Lutheran Church at 333 S. 12th St. was designated as a reunification location for residents and families affected by the incident, while the American Red Cross worked to establish shelter near the scene.
The investigation remained active Wednesday night as authorities worked to determine the sequence of events, the suspected shooter’s motive and how the suspect died. Police had not released the victims’ identities or detailed the conditions of the surviving civilian victims. Officials said there was no further threat to the public after the building and surrounding area were secured.