Photo: Jacob Wackerhausen / iStock / Getty Images
Thirteen people were injured in two separate mass shootings at homeless encampments in Minneapolis on Monday (September 15). The incidents, occurring within a span of 12 hours, have raised concerns about their potential connection. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated that he "wouldn't be surprised" if the shootings were related.
The first shooting took place near a transit station, leaving five people injured. Hours later, another shooting occurred at a homeless camp on private property, wounding eight individuals, including four with critical injuries. The camp is at the center of a legal dispute between the property owner, Hamoudi Sabri, and city officials. Sabri opened the camp to the homeless in July, but the city has been trying to shut it down.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara reported that an off-duty officer first learned of the second shooting when approached by people fleeing the camp. Upon arrival, officers found five injured individuals, while three others had already reached hospitals. No arrests have been made in either shooting.
On Tuesday, city officials began dismantling the homeless camp, according to The Star Tribune.
These shootings mark the fourth and fifth mass shooting incidents in Minneapolis over the past three weeks. Among these was a tragic event on August 27 at Annunciation Catholic School, where two children lost their lives and 21 others were injured. Mayor Frey announced that the city will clear the encampment once the crime scene investigation concludes, citing it as a community danger. Sabri criticized the city’s approach, calling for more supportive measures for the homeless instead of displacement.