Two men suffered life-threatening injuries after an altercation escalated into gunfire outside the Reign Event Center, authorities said.
MINNEAPOLIS — Nine people were wounded in a shooting outside a crowded Uptown nightclub early Sunday, including two young men who suffered life-threatening injuries, Minneapolis police said. Both critically injured men were expected to survive.
Officers were called at about 12:27 a.m. July 19 to the Reign Event Center in the 2900 block of Hennepin Avenue. Police said an altercation outside the venue appeared to have escalated into gunfire as a large crowd gathered in the entertainment district. No arrests had been announced by Sunday evening.
The victims were seven men and two women between the ages of 18 and 27, according to police. Four injured people were found near the nightclub, while five others reached hospitals separately. Their injuries ranged from wounds that were not considered life-threatening to critical injuries suffered by two men, ages 20 and 21.
Police said officers arrived less than a minute after the first report of gunfire. Responding officers requested more personnel because of the number of wounded people and the large crowd outside the venue. Officers from all five Minneapolis police precincts were sent to help treat victims, control the scene and preserve evidence.
A 20-year-old man with life-threatening injuries was among the four victims found near the event center. A 21-year-old man and two women, ages 22 and 27, also were found there with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Emergency crews took them to Hennepin Healthcare.
An 18-year-old man later arrived at Hennepin Healthcare with a wound that was not considered life-threatening. Four other men sought treatment at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Police said a critically injured 21-year-old man was transferred to Hennepin Healthcare, while three men, ages 20, 21 and 22, had injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Authorities said investigators were working to determine how many people fired weapons and whether some of the shots came from a vehicle. Police had not released descriptions of possible suspects or provided a detailed account of the confrontation that preceded the shooting. Officials also had not said whether any of the victims were involved in the initial dispute.
The Minneapolis Police Department’s Firearm Assault Shoot Team was leading the investigation. Forensic personnel processed the area for evidence while investigators interviewed witnesses and reviewed available video. Authorities said they were pursuing leads but had not publicly identified anyone believed to have fired a weapon.
A woman who was waiting outside the nightclub told FOX 9 that she was only a few feet from the gunfire when the shooting began. She described people running for safety as shots rang out. Police have not released a full estimate of how many people were outside the venue at the time.
Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson called the shooting reckless and said the gunfire endangered a large number of people gathered in the busy area. Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette said investigators would need cooperation from witnesses, community members and other agencies as they worked to identify those responsible.
Mayor Jacob Frey called the violence intolerable and said the city would work to hold the shooters accountable. He also cited police staffing, cooperation with other law enforcement agencies and investigative technology as parts of the city’s response to gun violence.
The same block was the site of a June 2020 shooting that wounded 11 people. Police had not reported any connection between that case and Sunday’s shooting. Authorities also had not said the Reign Event Center or its operators were connected to the gunfire beyond the shooting occurring outside the venue.
The investigation remained active Sunday night. Police continued reviewing evidence and searching for suspects as the two most seriously injured victims received hospital treatment. Officials had not announced charges or released additional information about a possible motive.
Author note: Last updated July 19, 2026.