"Something has to be done": Neighbors voice crime concerns after Bde Maka Ska stabbing
MINNEAPOLIS – Police say that a man in his 30s sustained a life-threatening injury in a fight that happened near Bde Maka Ska Wednesday afternoon.
The fight occurred at about 1 p.m. on West Bde Maka Ska between Ivy Lane and Rose Lane. Police say the fight involved two men in their 30s. One was stabbed and taken to the hospital. The other man has been taken into custody.
"It was a horrific scene, it was very terrible," John Williams of Minneapolis said after witnessing the incident.
Residents who lived nearby said it was alarming to hear of a stabbing in broad daylight. They said the area has experienced a rise in crime within the past week and even beyond – the past few months.
"They do race up and down the parkway a lot and you never know if it's gunshots or fireworks," Barb Godin said.
"All of the carjackings have been disturbing, but what's more disturbing is someone breaking into the house," Chuck Mooty said.
It's what happened to him in December when someone broke in and stole his car from his garage. On Sunday there was another incident in which neighbors described hearing gunshots. Mooty saw two people running through his yard afterward, and found a gun left behind on his driveway. He said police are investigating the incident.
"I don't know if fear is the right word but there been an uneasiness and it's been such an amazing community and I love this place and yet things ultimately have to change," Mooty said.
The neighbors hope for more police resources, and for those committing crimes to find a better path.
"Somehow we have to find a way to improve the environments they're in, improve the safety of all of us general public and find a way to create better positive activities than the tension and violence that's occurring," he said.
"Something has to be done with the safety and I'm not just talking about our neighborhood, it's neighborhoods across Minneapolis that are affected by this," Michelle Engstrand said.