Chaotic shooting in south Minneapolis leaves at least 3 dead, including an officer and a suspect

A Minneapolis police officer, a suspected shooter and a civilian died after a shooting in the Whittier neighborhood Thursday, the department said. Several others are injured.

Officer Jamal Mitchell died in the shooting, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said at an evening news conference.

“He was a hero, a son, a father, a fiancé and an officer deeply committed to protecting and serving,” Frey said. “Just a year ago, Officer Jamal Mitchell was recognized for his heroic act in saving a number of people, an elderly couple, and that's exactly the type of person he was.”

Besides the deaths, a man is injured, a bystander is in critical condition and an officer and a firefighter were shot, but their injuries are not considered life-threatening, authorities said.

There was no longer any danger to the public, authorities said Thursday evening.

Minneapolis police said they were responding to a reported double shooting at an apartment building near 22nd Street and Blaisdell Avenue. Dozens of police vehicles and several ambulances began responding to the area around 5:20 p.m.

Mitchell arrived to find an injured person about a block from the apartment and, while attempting to provide medical assistance, he was ambushed and shot, according to the superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Drew Evans.

A second officer arrived and returned fire. The suspect was injured and died at the scene.

Officers found two men shot to death in the apartment. One died and another was seriously injured, police said. Authorities thought the second man was going to die on the way to the hospital, but he was still alive around 10:15 p.m., Evans said.

Evans said officials believe they know who the suspect is, but will release more information soon.

Blaisdell Avenue was closed from Franklin Avenue to 24th Street as swarms of law enforcement responded, including the FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and SWAT vehicles. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, St. Paul Field Division, said its agents also responded to the scene.

Tyler Carson, who lives in an apartment building next to the scene, said police blocked him as he tried to exit the garage at the time of the shooting.

“I saw all these people running out of the apartment, they were jumping over the school fence over there” on Blaisdell, he said. “I thought, 'Oh, my God, something really bad must have happened.'”

Around 7:15 p.m., police vehicles arrived at HCMC in downtown Minneapolis, where police vehicles and tape blocked an entrance. Hundreds of law enforcement officers joined a procession in front of HCMC around 10 p.m.

This is the second shooting in Minnesota this year to claim the life of a first responder. Burnsville police officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand and firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth were shot and killed Feb. 18 while responding to a call for help involving an armed man barricaded in a home with seven children in the interior.

The last time a Minneapolis officer was shot while on duty was in 2002, when Officer Melissa Jayne Schmidt was killed, according to Officer Down Memorial Page.

“This officer has demonstrated unparalleled dedication, bravery and service in defense of the public. Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to his family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers as they navigate this incredibly difficult time,” said Executive Director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association , Brian Peters, in a press release.

“This has been a terrible day for our agency and for law enforcement. And it happens too often and it affects a lot of people,” said Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief Katie Blackwell.

Correction: An earlier version of this story reported an incorrect number of deaths. The story has been updated.