Two people were killed and three police officers were wounded when a gunman opened fire inside a downtown Minneapolis building on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
The suspect believed to be responsible for the shooting is also dead, according to police, though the cause of death has not yet been determined.
Minneapolis police officers responded to reports of gunfire at the downtown property in the late afternoon. Upon arriving at the scene, three officers sustained injuries during the response, police spokesman Garrett Parten said.
Emergency medical services transported seven people to local hospitals following the incident. Parten confirmed that one of those seven victims died after arriving at the hospital, while another victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The hospital treating the wounded law enforcement officers stated that all three officers are currently in stable condition.
Police investigation and motive
Authorities have not released details regarding what triggered the gunfire inside the downtown building. Parten noted that investigators have not yet identified a potential motive for the attack.
Federal law enforcement agencies joined local police at the scene shortly after the shooting began. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel confirmed that FBI agents were participating in the ongoing operation in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis is the most populous city in Minnesota, situated along the Mississippi River in the Upper Midwest of the United States. Local and federal agencies regularly coordinate responses during major public safety emergencies in the metropolitan area.
Official reactions and next steps
State leadership expressed support for the city as emergency crews secured the downtown area. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz posted a statement on social media platform X asking the public to pray for Minnesota in the wake of the violence.
Walz has served as the governor of Minnesota since 2019, overseeing state emergency management and law enforcement coordination across the state.
Police stated that investigators will remain at the scene as they work to determine how the suspect died and gather evidence from inside the building.
