Shooting inside downtown Minneapolis bar kills 1, injures 3 others

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A late-night shooting inside a downtown Minneapolis bar left one man dead, and three others injured on Tuesday. 

Fatal shooting inside downtown Minneapolis bar

What happened:

The incident happened around 11:40 p.m. at a bar on the 400 block of 4th Street South, located near City Hall and the Hennepin County Jail.

Police responded to a reported shooting and arrived to find a chaotic scene. Upon entering the bar, authorities discovered four people had been shot and injured. Among the victims was a 21-year-old man who sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving measures, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three others inside the bar, a man and two women, suffered gunshot wounds that appear to be non-life-threatening. They were transported to Hennepin Healthcare for treatment, though their current condition is unknown.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a fight inside the bar escalated into a shooting. When police arrived, they reported being met by a "large, unruly crowd" who were fighting, and requested additional officers to assist at the scene.

What they're saying:

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemned the violence at a Wednesday afternoon news conference. 

"This is unfortunately another act of senseless violence that’s unacceptable. In no way should any argument inside a crowded bar end in gunfire and a loss of life," O'Hara said. 

There have been no arrests in connection with the shooting, but police said one person was taken into custody for obstruction. 

"Our investigators are working to identify everyone involved and hold those responsible accountable," O'Hara said. "Anyone who knows the identity of the person who pulled the trigger is urged to contact police."

O'Hara also said the bar has security to check patrons for weapons, so how a gun got inside the bar is under investigation. The parties invovled were known to each other, and O'Hara sad the bar has had an increase in calls for service in recent weeks. 

Injured victim speaks out

Dig deeper:

Chalisa Anderson said she was at Bar Zia for the first time with her best friend. They were having drinks and she was heading out to smoke when she watched the whole incident unfold right in front of her. 

"I look up and right in front of me some guys are tussling," Anderson said. "So I backed up and started to go the other direction, and immediately I heard like 10 shots go off. And then I ran to the other side where the bartenders are and stuff and heard more shots go off. So I ducked down on to the floor."

Anderson didn’t realize she had been hit until she looked down and saw a hole in her pants by her knee with blood coming out.  

She was taken to the hospital by ambulance, where doctors told her she was either hit by shrapnel or deeply grazed by a bullet as shots were being fired. She did not see the faces or know anyone involved in the shooting.

What you can do:

Police encourage anyone with information to come forward and submit either an anonymous tip to CrimeStoppers or contact MPD directly by emailing policetips@minneapolismn.gov, or leaving a voicemail at 612-673-5848.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Gun violence in Minneapolis 

By the numbers:

While there has been a number of mass shootings in Minneapolis, overall gun violence in the city is down. 

According to the Minneapolis crime dashboard, the number of calls for shots fired has dropped 20% since this time last year. Meanwhile, the number of gunshot victims and homicides was down approximately 15% for that same time period. And while the number of assaults has risen slightly, most violent crimes have decreased over the past three years. 

As for what led to Tuesday night’s violence, police have not released any additional details.