Downtown Minneapolis faces an immediate threat to public safety after a shooting left one person dead and six others wounded on Wednesday, officials said.
Hennepin County spokesperson Joshua Yetman said Hennepin County Medical Center received seven patients, one of whom was later pronounced dead. The identity of the deceased has not been released. Authorities earlier reported that two police officers were wounded during the incident.
The Minneapolis Police Department urged people to avoid the area around the Minneapolis Convention Center and the nearby, densely populated Loring Park neighborhood while officers worked the scene. Video posted to social media showed officers aiming rifles upward toward an apartment tower near the convention center.
Minnesota governor Tim Walz issued a statement praising the response, writing, "Grateful to law enforcement actively working to ensure the safety of our neighbors in Downtown Minneapolis this afternoon," and adding, "Minnesota is praying for our first responders." FBI director Kash Patel wrote in an X post that the bureau had extended its resources to aid law enforcement on the ground.
No further information about the number of victims, their conditions, or the circumstances that led to the shooting was released immediately. Investigators have not disclosed any suspect descriptions, motives, or whether arrests were made. Officials said more details would follow as the response continued.
The combination of wounded officers, civilian casualties, a public safety warning for a busy downtown district, and federal assistance signals a major, ongoing response across local and federal agencies.
