Two people were killed and the suspect was dead after a shooting at an apartment building in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
One shooting victim died at the scene. A second died after arriving at Hennepin county medical center, a hospital spokesperson said.
Gunfire erupted on the upper floor of a high-rise apartment building, according to city officials. Video posted to social media showed police aiming rifles upward at an apartment tower near the Minneapolis convention center.
After receiving several 911 calls, officers entered the building at about 4.39pm. They followed the sound of shots and encountered a “haze”, which limited their sight, officials said.
Two officers were wounded by the gunfire, with one sustaining a non-life-threatening injury to the leg and a second undergoing surgery.
Authorities have not publicly identified the suspect.
Julius Bailey was sitting outside his apartment building when he heard gunshots and saw a man he recognized as a resident of the building holding a pistol. Bailey said he heard a woman screaming and immediately started running away. He said he counted eight shots.
Bailey said he recognized the man holding the gun because he was someone who was known for showing off his weapon. Bailey said he had tried to avoid the man since moving into the building in June.
“I could tell he was trouble,” he said.
Chris Miller, who also lives in the apartment building, said he heard a rapid succession of gunshots and quickly ran outside for safety. He said he believed he knew who carried out the shooting and that he encountered someone in the hallway with a handgun earlier this week and reported that person to management.
The Minneapolis police department and mayor Jacob Frey warned the public to stay away from the densely populated Loring Park neighborhood nearby.
“Grateful to law enforcement actively working to ensure the safety of our neighbors in Downtown Minneapolis this afternoon,” Minnesota governor Tim Walz said in a statement. “Minnesota is praying for our first responders.”
The FBI has extended its resources to aid law enforcement on the ground, director Kash Patel wrote in an X post.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
