A shooting inside a downtown Minneapolis apartment building on Wednesday afternoon left two people dead and the suspected gunman fatally shot, according to police. Three Minneapolis police officers were also wounded, two of them from gunfire, and all are in stable condition, authorities said.
Police Sgt. Garrett Parten told reporters that one victim died at the scene and another succumbed to injuries at Hennepin County Medical Center. The suspect was pronounced dead after the exchange with officers, though details on the exact sequence of events were still emerging.
Video posted to social media showed officers aiming rifles toward the upper floors of a high-rise near the Minneapolis Convention Center. Officials urged residents to avoid the densely populated Loring Park neighborhood while the situation unfolded.
Witness Julius Bailey, who lives in the building, said he heard gunfire and saw a man he recognized as a fellow resident holding a pistol. “I could tell he was trouble,” Bailey said, recounting that he heard a woman screaming and then eight shots. He said the man was known for brandishing his weapon, and Bailey had tried to steer clear of him since moving in this summer.
Another resident, Chris Miller, said he heard a rapid burst of shots and fled outside. Miller told reporters he believed he knew the shooter, having encountered someone with a handgun in the hallway earlier in the week and reported the incident to building management.
Governor Tim Walz said state officials were assisting local law enforcement. “Grateful to law enforcement actively working to ensure the safety of our neighbors in Downtown Minneapolis this afternoon,” Walz wrote on social media. “Minnesota is praying for our first responders.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was responding and would “offer any and all resources necessary to assist local authorities.” The shooting comes amid heightened scrutiny of public safety and gun violence in Minnesota, a state where political tensions have also flared over election processes.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth expressed condolences for the victims and praised the police response. “I’m incredibly thankful for the massive response of our brave law enforcement officers,” she said in a statement.
The incident adds to a troubling pattern of mass shootings in residential buildings, prompting renewed calls for stricter gun measures. Lawmakers have recently debated family-building policies and other social issues, but public safety remains a top concern for constituents.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims or the suspect, pending notification of relatives. The investigation is ongoing, with the FBI offering federal support.
