At least one civilian was killed and two police officers were wounded Wednesday afternoon after an active shooter opened fire inside a downtown Minneapolis apartment building, authorities said.
The officers were responding to reports of gunfire near 15 East Grant Street when one was shot in the stomach and the other in the leg, KSTP reports.
Four additional people were also reported injured during the Minneapolis shooting before law enforcement officers brought the gunman down.
The suspect, who has not been publicly identified, was later taken into custody, Hennepin County officials confirmed.
Images from the scene showed a heavy police response outside Loring Towers as emergency crews flooded the area.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said his public safety team was also responding to the downtown Minneapolis shooting, adding that state officials were “on the ground to support local law enforcement.”
By 5.30pm, agents with the ATF and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension had arrived, along with deputies from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media that federal agents were also responding, pledging to “offer any and all resources necessary to assist local authorities.”
Two police officers were shot while responding to reports of an active shooter on Wednesday
Photos from the scene show a massive police presence, as other emergency officials arrived
Minneapolis police, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rushed to the scene
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said his public safety team was also responding to the shooting
Anthony Strong told the Minneapolis Star Tribune how he was smoking behind the apartment building when he heard gunfire.
‘It was pop, pop, pop, pop and it was a bunch more after that, and then I went upstairs,’ he recounted.
There, he said he saw a property manager on the ground ‘and outside, there [were] two more people shot on the ground.
‘And then I saw them bring an officer out that got shot in the leg.’
Strong said he is still trying to ‘process’ what he witnessed.
Umecua Agnew, a resident of the building, also said she was in the elevator on the first floor when the shots rang out.
‘It was three adults and one child in the elevator, we were all together and when we got to the first floor, it was when we heard the massive shooting,’ she said.
At that point, Agnew said she and another woman grabbed the child and went to her eighth-floor apartment, from where she heard more gunfire.
At least one civilian was killed in the attack on Wednesday evening
A nearby hotel was placed on lockdown amid the shooting
By 5.30pm, ATF agents, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents all responded to the scene
Officers are asking the public to avoid the area of 15 East Grant Street
As the investigation now continues, officers are asking the public to avoid the area.
Meanwhile, a nearby hotel remains on lockdown.
In a statement on social media, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said he and his wife are ‘praying for the Minneapolis police officers involved in this tragedy and all the victims.’
He added that he is in contact with law enforcement and is awaiting further information.
‘God bless our Peace Officers,’ Emmer wrote.
Residents were evacuated from the apartment building following the shooting
The massive police presence at the apartment building is pictured
Police swarmed the downtown area following the mass shooting on Wednesday
Lisa Demuth, speaker of the Minnesota House who is now running for governor, also said she was ‘aware of reports regarding a shooting in downtown Minneapolis.
‘I am praying for the victims of this heinous crime and I’m incredibly thankful for the massive response of our brave law enforcement officers.’
Our News Outlet has reached out to Minneapolis police for more information.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
