At least two civilians were killed and four others were injured, including two police officers, when a gunman opened fire at a downtown Minneapolis apartment building.
Minneapolis police received a call at 4.36pm on Wednesday that one person had been shot at Loring Towers, an affordable housing community, Minneapolis Police spokesman Sgt Garrett Parten said at a news conference.
Soon, other calls came in reporting additional gunfire.
When police then arrived at the scene at 4.39pm, they found one victim dead and several others suffering from gunshot wounds.
Police then followed the sound of gunfire to an upper floor, where they were confronted by a ‘haze’ that limited their visibility.
Still, officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, leaving two officers shot, while a third sustained a non-life threatening injury.
One of those officers was shot in the stomach, while the other sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg KSTP reports. Both are now expected to make full recoveries.
In total, seven patients were rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center, one of whom was later pronounced dead, spokesman Jonathan Comito said.
The officer who was shot in the stomach has since undergone surgery, and was said to have been in stable condition.
The suspect was also killed on the scene, but it remains unclear whether he died in a police-involved shooting.
Two police officers were shot while responding to reports of an active shooter on Wednesday
Photos from the scene show a massive police presence, as other emergency officials arrived
Minneapolis police, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rushed to the scene
Photos from the scene show a massive police presence at the Loring Towers, where some windows were shattered.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz added that his public safety team was also responding to the shooting, and noted that state officials are ‘on the ground to support local law enforcement.’
By 5.30pm, ATF agents, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents all responded to the scene.
FBI Director Kash Patel also shared on social media that agents are responding to the scene as he vowed to ‘offer any and all resources necessary to assist local authorities.’
Meanwhile, the nearby University of St Thomas Minneapolis campus ordered students and staff to shelter in place before giving an all-clear at around 6.15pm.
The Hyatt Regency Minneapolis had also been placed on lockdown, but that was lifted at around 6.20pm.
At least one civilian was killed in the attack on Wednesday evening
Officers who responded to the scene found a ‘haze’ that limited visibility
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said his public safety team was also responding to the shooting
Anthony Strong told the Minneapolis Star Tribune how he was smoking behind the apartment building when he heard gunfire.
‘It was pop, pop, pop, pop and it was a bunch more after that, and then I went upstairs,’ he recounted.
There, he said he saw a property manager on the ground ‘and outside, there [were] two more people shot on the ground.
‘And then I saw them bring an officer out that got shot in the leg.’
Strong said he is still trying to ‘process’ what he witnessed.
Umecua Agnew, a resident of the building, also said she was in the elevator on the first floor when the shots rang out.
‘It was three adults and one child in the elevator, we were all together and when we got to the first floor, it was when we heard the massive shooting,’ she said.
At that point, Agnew said she and another woman grabbed the child and went to her eighth-floor apartment, from where she heard more gunfire.
A nearby hotel was placed on lockdown amid the shooting
By 5.30pm, ATF agents, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents all responded to the scene
Officers are asking the public to avoid the area of 15 East Grant Street
Another resident eventually led her out ‘because I wasn’t gonna leave, I was terrified that I might get caught in the shooting in the hallway so bad I didn’t want to leave.’
The two residents were then led across the street to safety.
‘I just thank God for being alive because that could have been me, or he could have killed another girl or her mom or anybody that could have got shot right there,’ Agnew said.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called the situation ‘horrifying’ in a post on social media.
‘My deepest thoughts are with those killed and hurt, including the police officers injured. I pray for their quick recovery,’ he said.
‘I fully support responding law enforcement and my office will help in all the ways possible.’
Residents were evacuated from the apartment building following the shooting
The massive police presence at the apartment building is pictured
Police swarmed the downtown area following the mass shooting on Wednesday
In a statement on social media, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said he and his wife are ‘praying for the Minneapolis police officers involved in this tragedy and all the victims.’
He added that he is in contact with law enforcement and is awaiting further information.
‘God bless our Peace Officers,’ Emmer wrote.
Lisa Demuth, speaker of the Minnesota House who is now running for governor, also said she was ‘aware of reports regarding a shooting in downtown Minneapolis.
‘I am praying for the victims of this heinous crime and I’m incredibly thankful for the massive response of our brave law enforcement officers.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Minneapolis police for more information.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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