Minneapolis gang shooting: 1 dead, 7 injured, 48 shell casings

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - A 20-year-old man was killed and seven others were injured in a shooting between two rival gangs near the intersection of 16th Avenue and Newton Avenue in north Minneapolis on Wednesday night.

Minneapolis police were called to the 1600 block of Newton Avenue shortly after 8:30 p.m. The young man was reported dead on the scene; four men and three women between the ages of 20 and 27 were taken to the hospital with injuries.

There were 48 shell casings and two handguns recovered by law enforcement at the scene.

“It’s an extraordinary amount of shots,” Deputy Chief Bruce Folkens told Fox 9. “Honestly, in 28 years of policing, that’s the most at one time that I’ve ever seen. Ever.”

Minneapolis Police said this is a top priority and will get all available resources: not only the investigation into this shooting, but into the rising gang conflicts that are more and more involving gunfire.  What they want to make clear is they don’t believe it’s that their more violent people, but rather people more willing to be violent.

“The same people that pulled triggers before are pulling triggers now but with much more frequency,” Folken said.

Chief Janeé Harteau said additional officers will be patrolling the area seven days a week.

“Although we’ve witnessed an increase in shootings in our city, we don’t believe there’s been an increase in the number of people pulling the trigger,” Harteau said. “It’s a small section of our population, and the same people are becoming more brazen and more violent. The victims in the most recent incident were the intended targets, but this violence affects everyone.”

Minneapolis police are still investigating the incident. Police are asking anyone with information regarding the shooting to call 612-692-8477.