MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A violent incident has shaken the city of Minneapolis, leaving three dead, including an off-duty policeman, according to information released by city authorities. The perpetrator of the shooting was also killed at the scene.
20-year-old Jamal Mitchell was identified as the fallen officer during a press briefing by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. A second officer, critically injured in the confrontation, is expected to survive his injuries, said city officials.
The deadly episode was initiated around 5:30 p.m. as local law enforcement responded to reports of active gunfire at a residential complex along Blaisdell Avenue South in the Whittier district. The Minneapolis Police Department stated that officers were met with immediate gunfire.
Jamal Mitchell came under fire about two blocks from the initial response location. He was providing medical aid to two injured men and was “ambushed,” according to Drew Evans from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
One of the initial victims died at the scene, while the other suffered serious injuries. An individual, believed to be a bystander caught in the crossfire, remains in critical condition. In addition, a firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the response.
Mitchell was commended for his bravery within the Minneapolis Police Department, having saved an elderly couple from a burning building in February 2023, just his third day on duty, recalled Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
Local law enforcement was augmented by additional state and federal units from the Minnesota State Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Officials urged the public to avoid the area to maintain safety and ensure operational efficiency.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed the state’s readiness to provide necessary resources and praised responders’ efforts to maintain safety. Meanwhile, the St. Paul Police Department assisted with patrol coverage in Minneapolis in the wake of the tragedy.