New details have been released by both the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and City of Minneapolis officials detailing a deadly mass shooting in a downtown apartment building Wednesday.
Minnesota BCA superintendent Drew Evans says the suspected shooter, 35-year-old Carlton Johnson first fired his gun on the first floor of the apartment at 15 East Grant Street near Loring Park.
Evans says there were actually two shooting incidents. "The first shooting occurred outside of the building during a custody exchange of a child belonging to, believed to belong to, the suspect in this case with a woman that he had a prior relationship with," Evans explains.
He says Johnson shot someone that works at the building at close range, and then as he entered the building he shot another worker of the facility. Neither of those staff members were killed, but Evans did say one suffered significant injuries that he was unable to detail further.
From there, the shooter went to the 9th floor where he had an apartment in the Shoreline Plaza building.
"That is where they encountered the suspect, and there was an exchange of gunfire at that time," details Evans. "The suspect died and two officers were shot and injured. A third officer was injured, unrelated to the exchange of gunfire."
Evans also added the mother of the child involved in the custody exchange was shot in the leg. The child was unharmed and both were able to be removed safely from the scene.
Evans did say the medical examiner confirmed that Johnson died in an exchange of gun fire, not from suicide which some media outlets and witnesses had reported.
He also confirmed all of the incident was captured on surveillance video.
Two people died in the shooting, and Evans shared that they are Dale Henry Spry, 63, and Muse Abdi Afrah, 61, both residents of the Shoreline Plaza building. There's no update at this time as to the condition of the others who were injured, including MPD officers.
Johnson was investigated for handgun in June
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty confirmed that Johnson was investigated in June after displaying a handgun, but wasn’t charged.
Moriarty said Johnson had “displayed the weapon but it did not leave his waistband” in the June 25th encounter. Minneapolis Police, who responded to the call that day, said he had a legal permit to carry the weapon, she said in a statement.
Moriarty said the office decided not to file the charges because there was “insufficient evidence to prove a charge beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Court documents say Johnson was facing eviction and had threatened a fellow resident with a gun in the months leading up to the shooting, which left two people dead and five others injured.
Johnson had a long list of issues with the building which were listed in state court documents related to his potential eviction. A number of those included brandishing a weapon and making threats.
The Minnesota BCA has confirmed 35-year old Carlton Johnson was killed by police in an exchange of gunfire
The Minnesota BCA has confirmed 35-year old Carlton Johnson was killed by police in an exchange of gunfire
