At least one person was killed and six others were injured in a shooting at an apartment building in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday, according to officials.
The Minneapolis Police Department said to three its officers were among those wounded, and warned the public to stay away from the area. Police did not immediately say how many people were shot, but Hennepin County Medical Center said it received seven patients, including one who died.
An MPD spokesperson said Wednesday evening that one of the officers was in surgery, and the other two had non-life-threatening injuries.
"This is a tremendously tragic event," MPD Public Information Officer Garrett Parten said at a Wednesday evening press conference. "And our thoughts and prayers are with the families and the loved ones of those who lost their lives, with those who were injured and with the injured officers and their families."
Parten also said the shooter had died, but didn't say how.
"The suspected shooter is deceased and at this time it is unknown how he died," Parten announced. "Four additional people with apparent gunshot wounds were transported to Hennepin Healthcare, HCMC. One of those individuals died at the hospital. There was one additional individual who died at the scene, so in summary, there were four people transported. One died. There is one person who died at the scene, and the suspected shooter is also deceased at the scene."
MPD says initial information indicated that one person had been shot and additional 911 callers reported hearing further gunfire. Officers began arriving at approximately 4:39 p.m. and entered the high-rise apartment building near Loring Park.
"Inside, officers encountered victims and heard additional gunfire," Parten explained. "Officers followed the sound of gunfire to the upper floor of the building, and on that floor, officers encountered a haze that significantly limited their visibility. Three officers were injured, two of those by gunfire."
Minneapolis city officials have scheduled another update on the incident at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night. You can watch that live here:
Julius Bailey was sitting outside of his apartment building when he heard gun shots and saw a man he recognized as a resident of the building holding a pistol. Bailey said he heard a woman screaming and immediately started running away. He said he counted eight shots.
Bailey said that he recognized the man holding the gun because he was someone who was known for showing off his weapon. Bailey said he has tried to avoid the man since moving into the building in June.
“I could tell he was trouble,” he said.
Chris Miller, who also lives in the apartment building, said he heard a rapid succession of gunshots and quickly ran outside for safety. He said he believed he knew who carried out the shooting and that he encountered someone in the hallway with a handgun earlier this week and reported that person to management.
Video posted to social media showed police aiming rifles upward at an apartment tower near the Minneapolis Convention Center. Officials warned residents to avoid the densely populated Loring Park neighborhood nearby.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in a post on social media that state officials are on the ground helping local law enforcement respond to the shooting.
“Grateful to law enforcement actively working to ensure the safety of our neighbors in Downtown Minneapolis this afternoon,” Walz said. “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 post on social media.
