MINNEAPOLIS — Two people, including a police officer, were killed in a shooting in Minneapolis on Thursday evening, according to city officials. The suspect is also dead, authorities said.
A second police officer was also injured but has been released from hospital, and a firefighter also suffered non-life-threatening injuries. According to police, two civilians were also injured, one seriously and one seriously.
The identities of the killed civilian and the suspect have not been released.
During a news conference, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey identified 36-year-old Jamal Mitchell as the officer killed in the shooting.
Details of the shooting
According to a news release from the city of Minneapolis, the incident began around 5:30 p.m. when officers responded to a shots fired call to an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue South, in the Whittier neighborhood. Upon arrival, officers were immediately met with gunfire, Minneapolis police said.
About two blocks from the original call area, Mitchell had attempted to provide medical aid to two men who were injured when he was “ambushed,” said Drew Evans of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
One of the original victims died at the scene and another suffered serious injuries. A person believed to be an innocent bystander was also shot while officers responded. They are in critical condition.
Mitchell was recognized for his work with the Minneapolis Police Department in February 2023 after saving an elderly couple from a burning house. It was Mitchell’s third day on the job, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
“He was courageous in every action he took,” said Katie Blackwell, deputy chief of operations for the Minneapolis Police Department. “He was a wonderful person. He had only been in our department for a year and a half and he was exceptional in every way.”
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Witnesses described hearing the gunshots as the incident unfolded.
“My girlfriend and I first heard some really loud banging,” said Reuben Molina, who lives nearby. “Then we heard it over and over again, in quick succession. And me and her said, ‘Oh, those are gunshots.'”
In addition to the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also responded to the incident. Authorities asked people to avoid the area.
“The state of Minnesota stands ready to provide all necessary resources. Praying for all the first responders on the ground working to keep the community safe,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said in a tweet.
St. Paul Police Department officers helped with patrols in Minneapolis Thursday evening, according to St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting tonight in Minneapolis,” Carter said. “We pray for our colleagues and the entire Minneapolis community.”
a flood of responses from Minnesota leaders and agencies have been issued in response to the mass shooting that left a Minneapolis police officer and two others dead.
“Once again, a police officer bravely faced danger and tragically lost his life while protecting the community,” Brian Peters, executive director of the Minneapolis Police and Peace Officers Association, said in a statement.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the incident.
