Another violent weekend in Minneapolis left two people dead and several injured in at least ten shootings across the city during Pride weekend.
Friday shootings
The violence began with a homicide early Friday morning on the 2500 block of Clinton Avenue. Police responded about 12:45 a.m. to reports of gunfire and found a man gravely injured, who later died at the scene. In a statement, police said they found evidence of gunfire in the area.
Another man showed up at an area hospital about ten minutes later with a gunshot wound that was not life-threatening. Police indicated could be connected to the same incident.
Around 5 p.m. Friday near 26th and Humboldt Avenue North, another man was shot in the chest, according to available dispatch audio.
Later on Friday, at about 9:30 p.m., two men were injured in a shooting near 32nd and Logan Avenue North.
Saturday shootings
At 12:30 a.m. Saturday, police found a male shot near Mortimer’s bar on the 2000 block of Lyndale Avenue South, the same block where a shooting murder took place last weekend.
Minutes later, another shooting occurred about 12:45 a.m. on the 700 block of Penn Avenue North, where a man was reportedly shot in the leg.
About 2 a.m. Saturday, there was a shooting report at 45th and Lyndale Avenue North, according to the Minneapolis police 911 dashboard.
About 3:30 a.m. Saturday, a person with a gunshot wound showed up at Children’s or Abbott Hospital, according to the Minneapolis police 911 dashboard.
Sunday shootings
On Sunday at 1 a.m., the second homicide shooting of the weekend occurred on the 2400 block of Bloomington Avenue. Police said in a later statement that officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation and multiple 911 reports of a man lying on the ground outside, where they located a man with a life-threatening gunshot wound. Police also recovered a gun from near the injured man. Despite immediate medical aid and ambulance transport to HCMC, he died from his injuries. No arrests had been made as of Sunday.
Less than 30 minutes later, a shooting occurred in the Loring Park neighborhood near Hennepin Avenue and Spruce Place. Multiple media outlets later reported that a 15-year-old girl sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and that two boys ages 14 and 15 had been arrested.
Finally, at 2 a.m. Sunday, a man was shot at Northeast Palace bar on the 2500 block of 4th Street Northeast. According to available dispatch audio, the man was shot in the chest and side. Police provided no public details on the shooting.
Additionally, across the river in St. Paul, two teens were shot in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood, according to media reports. The shooting occurred about 12:46 a.m. Sunday. A 17-year-old was shot in the back, and an 18-year-old was shot in the foot. Their injuries were reported to be non-life threatening. No arrests had been made at the time.
Weekend violence as MPD faces staffing struggles
Just last week, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was ordered to increase the number of Minneapolis police officers to the legally required minimum of 731 outlined in the City Charter.
The order stems from a 2020 lawsuit filed on behalf of residents by the Upper Midwest Law Center. In 2022, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the city must comply with the staffing minimum outlined in the City Charter. The city has failed to meet the minimum number of officer staffing.
Police staffing numbers recently posted by Crime Watch Minneapolis, as reportedly outlined by the Police Officer’s Federation of Minneapolis (POFM), state that there are approximately 604 sworn officers, 26 of which are in appointed leadership roles, and 267 of which are available for 911 patrol. The POFM also appeared to imply that 30 cadets were incorrectly being included in the 604 count of sworn officers.
Only on Crime Watch: These Minneapolis police staffing numbers forwarded from a source were reportedly put out by the police federation/union (POFM) following inquiries into what they implied are inflated staffing numbers (by officials & media).
604 sworn (26 appointed; 42 LTs;… pic.twitter.com/pyeaPT1DnI
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) June 27, 2026
Retired MPD lieutenant and former POFM president Bob Kroll commented on the Crime Watch post saying, “For 50 years, 9 appointed staff was enough for a 900 cop department. Now they need 26 for an inflated 600. That spells out the problem.”
Earlier this year, the UMLC filed another lawsuit attempting to force Frey to hire more officers to meet the requirement. Last week, a Hennepin County court issued an alternative writ of mandamus which requires Frey to prove the city has 731 police officers by Jan. 4, 2027.
Frey will face a civil trial in April if he fails to prove the city has the requisite number of officers by Jan. 4, 2027.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
