One dead, two injured in shooting at small Minneapolis homeless encampment
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at a homeless encampment in Minneapolis, leaving two people injured and one dead.
Police say they responded to a call about a shooting at 21st Street East and 15th Avenue South at approximately 4:42 a.m.
Upon arriving, officers found three adult men injured by gunfire to whom they rendered immediate medical aid. All three men were transported to Hennepin Healthcare, where one of the men died as a result of his injuries.
Neighbors like Juan Alberz woke up to the gunshots.
"All the noise woke me up, and I heard the ambulance noise and people screaming," said Alberz.
Alberz and his wife, Kara Artishon, said the encampment near their home has grown over the last four weeks.
Since then, the two said police have chased people away two times now and the encampment can range between 10 to 30 people at a time.
"Living nearby it is a challenge," Alberz said.
For him, it is scary, considering his two sons also live in their home.
"My only concern is crossfire or something or the house getting shot at," said Artishon.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief O'Hara, this encampment came about after a much larger encampment on Franklin Avenue by the underpass was cleared out.
"We have known for months that the community here has serious concerns with people in encampments, people sleeping outside," said O'Hara.
A homeless advocate who spoke with WCCO said those in the encampments have nowhere else to go, and that they need a safe place with showers and critical services.
Encampments like these bring increased crime and gun violence, police said.
In 2024, Minneapolis police said 23% of all shooting victims in the third precinct were within 500 feet of an encampment.
"As soon as one encampment is cleared, another one pops up somewhere else, and crime in the area immediately rises," said O'Hara.
Research into the correlation between crime and encampments is less conclusive.
A recent University of Colorado study found "...no significant change in crime statistics..." after camps were removed.
Police are working to piece together the events that led up to the incident and how the men are connected to one another. Police say they're also looking into the possibility that three suspects may have fled the scene on foot.
"Once again, tragedy has occurred at a homeless encampment and all three of the injured are known to police," said O'Hara. "Those injured today are part of the at-risk population in homeless encampments. They are suspects, witnesses, and victims of crimes. The level of crime, the drug use, and other things associated with encampments continue to create very unsafe conditions that we are working with our partners to try to address."
Police said no one is in custody for this latest shooting. The two other victims remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
Police encourage anyone who may have witnessed the shooting to report any information to Crime Stoppers. You report tips anonymously by calling 1-800-222-8477.
