MINNEAPOLIS — Three people were killed, including a police officer, in a shooting Thursday evening in Minneapolis, according to city authorities. The suspect also died, authorities said. A second police officer was also seriously injured, CBS Minnesota has learned.
At a news conference, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey identified Jamal Mitchell, 28, as the officer killed in the shooting. The second officer is expected to recover, officials said.
According to a press release from the City of Minneapolis, the incident began around 5:30 p.m. when officers responded to a call of shots fired at an apartment complex located in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue South, in the Whittier neighborhood. When officers arrived, they were immediately greeted by gunfire, Minneapolis police said.
About two blocks from the area of the initial call, Mitchell was trying to provide medical assistance to two men who had been injured when he was “ambushed,” said Drew Evans of the Criminal Apprehension Bureau of Minnesota.
One of the first victims died instantly and another was seriously injured. A person believed to be an innocent bystander was also shot dead as police responded. They are in critical condition. Additionally, one firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Mitchell received recognition for his work with the Minneapolis Police Department in February 2023 after saving an elderly couple from a burning house. It was Mitchell’s third day on the job, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
“He was courageous in every action he did,” said Katie Blackwell, deputy chief of operations for the Minneapolis Police Department. “He was a wonderful human being. He had only been with us for a year and a half and he was exceptional in every way.”
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Witnesses described hearing gunshots ring out at the time of the incident.
“Me and my girlfriend heard really loud bangs at first,” said Reuben Molina, who lives nearby. “Then we heard it over and over again, in rapid succession. And she and I were like, ‘Oh, those are gunshots.'”
In addition to Minneapolis police, the Minnesota State Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also responded to the incident. Authorities were asking people to avoid the area.
“The State of Minnesota stands ready to provide whatever resources are needed, praying for all first responders on the ground who are working to keep the community safe,” the Minnesota governor said. » Tim Walz said in a tweet.
Officers from the St. Paul Police Department were assisting with patrols in Minneapolis Thursday evening, according to the St. Paul Police Department. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting this evening in Minneapolis,” Carter said. “We pray for our colleagues and for the entire Minneapolis community.”
A flood of responses Minnesota leaders and agencies have been issued in the wake of the mass shooting that killed a Minneapolis police officer and two other people.
“Once again, a police officer bravely faced danger and tragically lost his life while protecting the community,” Brian Peters, executive director of the Minneapolis Police and Peace Officers Association, said in a statement.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the incident.