Gunshots near upscale Uptown apartment injure two; residents concerned about security, gangs

An officer said the location was the site of a "huge Lows party with a lot of north side gang members over there."

By
Crime Watch MN
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Uptown
Minneapolis police responded to a disturbance at Elan Uptown Luxury Apartments over the weekend (submitted to Crime Watch)

At least two people were injured Saturday night following a report of automatic gunfire outside an Uptown Minneapolis apartment complex that describes itself as “cultivated” and “cosmopolitan” on its website.

There were also several related reports of residences and a vehicle damaged by bullets in what was described as 20-30 rounds of automatic gunfire.

Police were dispatched just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday on a report of shots fired at 2832 Emerson Avenue South, which is the location of the Elan Uptown Luxury Apartments complex.

The dispatcher indicated that the location had previously been reported as the site of a “loud party,” according to dispatch audio.

As squads were responding, another officer aired to the dispatcher that the location was the site of a “huge Lows party with a lot of north side gang members over there.” The “Lows” refers to a set of north Minneapolis gang cliques whose territory is south of West Broadway Avenue.

The dispatcher immediately responded that the incident had been updated to a shooting with a person reportedly shot in the face.

Police arrived and found the victim inside an apartment on the fourth floor of the building who reported to police that he thought he’d been struck by a stray bullet. Police later updated that the victim may have been struck by a bullet fragment.

Police located casings in three locations outside 2837 Emerson Avenue South, which is part of the same apartment complex. Police indicated that security reported to them that someone had fired shots back at the people in the vehicle who had fired the original shots.

While police were still on site, the dispatcher informed officers of several reports of residences that had been damaged by gunfire including two on West 28th Street. Police also said they found a vehicle that had been damaged by gunfire.

Meanwhile, an additional gunshot victim showed up at Methodist Hospital related to the incident. Police later told media that the male had been shot multiple times but was expected to survive.

There were at least two other police calls to the area in the hour prior to the shootings. At 9:50 p.m., police were dispatched to a report of a fight involving 10-15 people in the street at 27th and Dupont Avenue South. When police arrived, they said the fight was part of a disturbance at 28th and Dupont Avenue South, which abuts the Elan apartment complex.

Just after 10 p.m., about 30 minutes prior to the shootings, police were dispatched on a report at 28th and Emerson Avenue South of three black males who had forced a black female who was screaming for help into a vehicle and fled the area.

Following the shooting incident, videos and commentary from residents were submitted to both Crime Watch and photojournalist Rebecca Brannon.

Videos appeared to show partiers at the Elan apartment complex that included several women “twerking” on top of cars in the street as well as in the courtyard area. Others could be seen dancing around while holding liquor bottles.

Several residents reported to Crime Watch in private messages that they reached out to Elan apartment management with damage reports and security concerns and received no response. At the same time, Elan was posting promotional material on its Instagram page without addressing the shooting incident.

Another report and photos from a resident appeared to show damage to a pool fountain at the Elan apartment complex. The resident also indicated that there were several points of uncontrolled access where non-residents were making entry into the complex. The resident indicated that maintenance has been going downhill and there have been reports of package thefts and people sleeping in stairwells.

Police were called back to the Elan complex on Monday for more reports of a large party taking place where a bouncer was reported to be collecting money for entrance.

Elan management finally responded to residents on Tuesday with an email that indicated they had no information about the shootings and were waiting for police to provide details. The email made no attempt to address the ongoing security concerns of residents, apparent uncontrolled access to the complex, and potential gang activity at the location.

An Alpha News email inquiry to Elan management requesting comment on the weekend shootings and resident concerns went unanswered.

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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.

 

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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.

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