Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is calling for city leaders to do what they can to help police put a lid on violent crime in the downtown area.
This comes after three shootings since Friday in downtown Minneapolis, one of them fatal.
The Hennepin County medical examiner reports that 24-year-old Joe Ross, Jr. or Shakopee died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
There are no arrests in any of the weekend shootings.
Mayor Frey released a statement following the latest shooting death:
- “Chief (Medaria) Arradondo and I have made a strong, coordinated response to violent crime a priority. Forging and strengthening partnerships with businesses and neighborhood organizations has been a significant piece of Minneapolis’ crime prevention strategy. Still, as the early summer weeks have made clear, we as city leaders should step up and give our police department the resources and staffing it needs to successfully advance police-community relations and effectively curb violent crime.”
City council member Steve Fletcher of Ward 3 (downtown Minneapolis) also released a statement, cautioning that they need to take a hard look at any changes.
- “Downtown Minneapolis is the premier regional destination for live theatre, sports, and music. Any violent crime downtown is too much, and we take every incident seriously. This year, we’ve deployed several new strategies and resources ranging from targeted MPD beats to reconfigured public spaces, to community partnerships, many of which are showing promise at preventing violence before it happens, ensuring everyone who visits feels safe, and catching people who commit violent crime. While this weekend’s incidents are still under investigation, it’s irresponsible to speculate that any one simple answer like MPD staffing levels could have prevented recent incidents, or could prevent similar crimes in the future. It’s MPD and the Council’s job to make clear-headed, data-informed investments in community safety, and not to make knee-jerk responses to a small sample size of events.”
Minneapolis Downtown Council (mpls downtown council) president and CEO Steve Cramer also released a statement.
- “Concern about public safety downtown is understandable given events so far this year. The people who live, work and visit there deserve better than what they too often experience at present. The business community remains committed to—and financially invested in—partnerships with law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and community outreach agencies to make downtown as safe as possible. We celebrate and support the many attractions, events and activities downtown has to offer. What is also needed at this critical juncture is greater police presence, and clear support for their efforts to root out drug activity, gun violence and intimidating behaviors. It is an article of faith for the mpls downtown council that downtown is a place for everyone who comes exhibiting and expecting in return respectful conduct. Upholding that standard must be an immediate priority to insure confidence in the days and weeks ahead.”
Early Sunday, Minneapolis police were alerted by a pedestrian that an adult male was down on the roadway near Washington Avenue and North 1st Ave.
Investigators say the shooting may have been traffic-related.
On Saturday, an early morning shooting in downtown Minneapolis sent two people to the hospital.
An off duty officer reported the sound of gun shots in the area of 7th and Hennepin.
Officers in the area located an adult male with a non-life threatening gunshot wound.
Around the same time, officers found another adult male with a non-life threatening gunshot wound on the 500 block of North 1st Street.
