Quick Answer
A Minneapolis shooting took place on Wednesday afternoon inside the Shoreline Plaza apartment building (formerly known as Loring Towers) near Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis. A gunman opened fire, leaving two victims and the suspected shooter dead, while six other people were hurt, including three police officers. The suspect has been named as 35-year-old Carlton Neal Johnson II, a resident who was reportedly fighting an eviction after threatening neighbours with a gun. State and federal agencies are now investigating.
What Happened in Minneapolis Today?
It all started with a 911 call. Someone called in a shot person at an apartment complex on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, near Loring Park. Officers arrived quickly and entered the building around 4:39 p.m.
Inside they found several shot people, and could hear gunfire being fired from somewhere else in the building. The shooting happened on an upper floor of the tower, right next to the Minneapolis Convention Center in the bustling Loring Park.
It didn’t take long for the place to turn into a crime scene. Helicopters circled overhead and dozens of police cars clogged the streets. One local resident said he saw a whole cluster of squad cars speed by just before he heard a volley of gunshots nearby. The roadways were also affected, as an MPD squad car was involved in a separate crash near a downtown Target a few blocks away from where the chaos was unfolding.
Who Was Killed and Injured?
By the time the scene was secured, the toll was grim. Two victims lost their lives — one at the scene and one later at hospital — and the suspected gunman was also found dead. It is still not fully clear how the shooter died, and investigators are working to confirm this.
On top of the three deaths, six more people were hurt:
- Three police officers were injured, two of them by gunfire. One officer was shot in the stomach and taken into surgery, while another was shot in the leg — both are expected to recover fully.
- Three other civilians were also wounded and taken to hospital for treatment.
Hennepin County Medical Center confirmed it received seven patients in total from the incident, one of whom did not survive.
Who Is the Suspected Shooter?
Investigators have identified the suspect behind the attack as Carlton Neal Johnson II. The 35-year-old Minneapolis man was at the center of an eviction dispute at the complex, where he had previously been seen threatening other residents with a gun. Police have not yet revealed a motive, and an investigation into his personal life and the chain of events has so far failed to yield any results.
How Have Officials Responded?
The shooting prompted a rapid response from local, state, and federal authorities. Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) stated that it was reviewing the use-of-force incident and was investigating with crime scene units, going floor by floor to understand what transpired.
In addition, federal authorities were also involved. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the bureau was aware of the shooting and would provide any resources necessary to the local authorities investigating the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in St. Paul also sent special agents to the scene.
Furthermore, Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz responded to the event by saying that he thanked the officers who arrived at the scene and noted that his state’s public safety team was on the ground, helping local law enforcement. The Attorney General Keith Ellison called the attack horrific and stated that his office would support the investigation, while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke directly with his state’s politicians about the situation.
Impact on the Neighbourhood
Loring Park is a busy and densely populated Downtown area, and the shooting has caused chaos in the Wednesday evening rush hour. The authorities asked people to avoid the affected area in this busy district while the police work the scene. Nevertheless, the nearby restaurants, tattoo parlour, and other businesses were still open shortly after the shooting, a sign that such a violent incident can happen anywhere and at any time.
One woman who had just arrived in the city from San Francisco said she stepped off her flight straight into the middle of the unfolding emergency, a stark example of how quickly ordinary afternoons can turn frightening.
What Happens Next?
The BCA-led investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with more details to emerge as police, detectives, and prosecutors sort through the evidence. Information should come out about what caused the shooter to die, any charges brought against him for threatening language before the shooting, and the status of both the wounded officers and civilians.
For the latest verified information, check official channels directly:
- Minneapolis Police Department
- Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
- Hennepin County Medical Center
FAQ
Where did the Minneapolis shooting happen? Inside the Shoreline Plaza apartment building (formerly Loring Towers), near Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis.
How many people died in the Minneapolis shooting? Three people died in total — two victims and the suspected shooter.
How many people were injured? Six people were injured, including three police officers.
Who is the suspected shooter? Carlton Neal Johnson II, 35, a resident of the building who was reportedly facing eviction.
Is the investigation still ongoing? Yes. Minnesota’s BCA, along with federal agencies, is still investigating exactly what happened and why.
