Two victims and the gunman are dead following a shooting at a downtown Minneapolis apartment building on Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
Three Minneapolis police officers were also injured, police Sgt. Garrett Parten said during an evening press conference. Two of the officers sustained gunshot wounds. All three are listed in stable condition, according to a hospital spokesperson.
One victim was fatally shot at the scene, while another died after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, Parten said.
The Minneapolis Police Department confirmed that two of its officers were among the wounded and urged residents to avoid the area. Authorities did not immediately disclose the total number of people shot, but Hennepin County Medical Center reported receiving seven patients, including one who died.
No additional information was immediately available about the conditions of the remaining patients.
Julius Bailey was sitting outside his apartment building when he heard gunfire and saw a man he recognized as a resident holding a pistol. Bailey reported hearing a woman screaming before he ran for safety, estimating he heard eight shots in total.
Bailey said he recognized the armed man because the individual was known for frequently displaying his weapon. Bailey added that he had deliberately avoided the resident since June, when he moved into the building.
“I could tell he was trouble,” he said.
Chris Miller, another resident, said he heard a rapid succession of gunshots and fled outside for safety. Miller stated that he believed he knew the shooter and that he had encountered someone carrying a handgun in the hallway earlier that week, reporting the incident to building management.
Video shared on social media showed officers aiming rifles upward at an apartment tower near the Minneapolis Convention Center. Officials urged residents to steer clear of the densely populated Loring Park neighborhood nearby.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on social media that state officials are on the ground assisting local law enforcement with the response.
“Grateful to law enforcement actively working to ensure the safety of our neighbors in Downtown Minneapolis this afternoon,” Walz wrote. “Minnesota is praying for our first responders.”
The FBI is responding to the shooting and “will offer any and all resources necessary to assist local authorities,” Director Kash Patel said in a post on the social platform X.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth said she is praying for the victims of “this heinous crime.”
“I’m incredibly thankful for the massive response of our brave law enforcement officers,” she said in a social media post.
