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Minneapolis Police Shoot Suspect in Apartment Building Shooting, Renewing Calls for Gun Control
A 40-year-old man suspected of firing multiple rounds in a Minneapolis apartment building is in critical condition after being shot by police, who recovered a cache of weapons including an AK-47 rifle and a shotgun.
230107-N-NO146-1004 GULF OF OMAN (Jan. 7, 2023) Thousands of AK-47 assault rifles sit on the flight deck of guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) during an inventory process, Jan. 7. U.S. naval forces seized 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles from a fishing vessel transiting along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen. (U.S. Navy photo)
A 40-year-old man suspected of firing multiple rounds in an apartment building in Minneapolis is in critical but stable condition after being shot by a police officer, authorities said. The incident occurred on the 4000 block of Minnehaha Avenue, where dozens of 911 calls reported multiple shots fired inside the apartment building at around 4:30 a.m. Saturday.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara described the active shooting as a "terrifying incident for dozens of residents." Officers arrived to find a chaotic scene, with bullets marring the building's entry door and nearby homes, spent bullet cartridges along the hallway, and a shotgun laid on the floor of an opened apartment. As authorities evacuated dozens from the building, a gun's muzzle flashed from the apartment's stairwell, where police say officers and SWAT members contained the shooter as he fired multiple rounds from an AK-47 rifle.
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At 5:33 a.m., an officer fired their rifle at the man, striking his jaw. They disarmed him and provided medical aid until the suspect was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center in critical but stable condition. The officer who shot the suspect, and an officer who witnessed the shooting, are on administrative leave while the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigates.
The suspect's motive is unclear, but police say he was heavily armed, with a shotgun, AK-47 rifle, 45-caliber handgun, and a backpack filled with more ammo. He also wore a military-style flak jacket, body armor meant to hold bullets while protecting its user from gunfire. "We had the bomb squad come out to check the backpack because I was concerned it could be a boobytrap for first responders," O'Hara said.
The incident is the latest in a string of shootings in Minneapolis, with five homicides reported in the city since last Friday, bringing the city's total this year to 51. Minneapolis reported 45 homicides at this time last year. Local officials have renewed calls for gun control measures, with Mayor Jacob Frey saying, "Nobody needs an AK-47. Getting these weapons off our streets must be a priority at state capitols across the country." Ward 12 Councilmember Aurin Chowdhury added, “We must make every effort from the local level, state level, and federal level to address and end gun violence in our communities.”
