Minneapolis Police End Crime Spree with Arrests and Respond to Homicide Saturday Morning
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) responded to two significant incidents on Saturday morning, June 1, 2024, highlighting both their swift action in a homicide case and a successful crackdown on a crime spree involving juveniles.
Homicide Investigation:
At approximately 11:30 am, officers from the Minneapolis Police Department’s 4th Precinct were dispatched to a reported shooting on the 3400 block of 34th Ave N, between James Ave N and Knox Ave N. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 25-year-old male who had been shot while inside a vehicle, lying on the ground. The victim was unresponsive and not breathing. Officers immediately administered CPR before the victim was transported to North Memorial Healthcare, where he was pronounced deceased.
Chief Brian O’Hara remarked on the incident, noting its similarity to the incident this past Thursday, where Officer Jamal Mitchell found a suspect down. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release the victim's identity and the cause and manner of death. The case, registered under GO number 24-148440, is currently under active investigation, with multiple leads being pursued by MPD investigators.
Crime Spree and Arrests:
Earlier in the day, at around 10 am, officers from the 3rd Precinct were alerted to a series of crimes in the 4100 block of Elliot Ave S in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The spree involved stolen vehicles and juveniles breaking into cars, with reports indicating that a gun was displayed during at least one incident. The MPD activated a crime spree response protocol, and Chief O’Hara authorized a pursuit of the suspects.
At approximately 11:50 am, one of the stolen vehicles was spotted near 32nd St E and Hiawatha Ave. A pursuit ensued and ended near the 3200 block of Longfellow Ave, where three juveniles fled the vehicle. After a brief foot chase, all three were apprehended, and four handguns were recovered.
Chief O’Hara expressed relief and gratitude for the safe resolution of the incident, stating,
“The three juveniles that we have in custody are known to us. We are thankful to have them off the street and under arrest safely. Those guns were recovered, and thankfully, no one was injured. I'm incredibly proud of the work that everyone is continuing to do, and that's evidenced by what happened this morning. Our officers got four guns off the street. Our officers are continuing to show up to work every day. They're continuing to respond and they're doing a great job trying to help keep people safe. And I'm so thankful for what they do."
The MPD encourages anyone with information regarding these incidents to contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit CrimeStoppersMN.org. Informants can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest and conviction.
Written by: Will Wight
Cover Photo Credit: Cover Photo by Max Fleischmann on Unsplash
