Memorial weekend marred by violence in Minneapolis and east metro

In Minneapolis, three people were shot and one was stabbed in separate incidents.

weekend
Left: A man was stabbed in the head early Saturday in downtown Minneapolis. Right: Minneapolis police recovered two "ghost guns" in downtown following a shooting.

At least 10 people were shot in the east metro over the holiday weekend, including multiple people who were attending a graduation party. Across the river in Minneapolis, three people were shot and one was stabbed in separate incidents. Two of the incidents occurred in downtown Minneapolis following the Timberwolves Friday night block party, and the violence continued into Tuesday.

Police in north Minneapolis responded to a shooting about 11:19 p.m. Friday on the 2800 block of Fremont Avenue North where a person was shot in the leg.

About two hours later, just after 1 a.m. Saturday in downtown Minneapolis, police called out over the radio that shots were fired in the Gay 90s parking lot, according to police scanner audio.

Within minutes, police reported that two suspects were in custody and that a gun had been recovered.

Minneapolis police posted on social media about Saturday’s arrest on Wednesday and posted pictures of two “ghost guns” without serial numbers they say were recovered from the two suspects.

Minneapolis police recovered two “ghost guns” in downtown following a shooting. (MPD/Facebook)

Minutes after the suspects were arrested on Saturday, a person who had been shot was located at 3rd and Nicollet Mall, and was reported to be shot in the arm or shoulder. A second injured person was located at 5th and Hennepin Avenue, who was initially reported to be shot. However, police later updated that the person was not shot but had an unspecified injury.

While police were still dealing with the shots fired and shooting situation, the dispatcher aired about 1:20 a.m. Saturday a report of a stabbing near the Tantrum NightClub on the 100 block of North 4th Street where there had been a report of a large brawl. Police arrived and found a man stabbed at least three times, including in the head. Police nearly immediately took a suspect into custody, who was later indicated to have also been stabbed or cut.

A short video clip was later posted by an Instagram user showing a man on a gurney who appeared to have a knife sticking out of his head.

Traquan Diaveonmartez Jackson, 28, was initially charged with second-degree assault, but the charges were upgraded on Wednesday to include a charge of second-degree attempted murder.

The complaint details that police arrived at the location of the fight and found a man with a knife fully embedded in his skull near his left temple. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition. A motive was not listed, but police learned that Jackson had been in a fight with the victim earlier in the evening. Police obtained cellphone video of the stabbing fight in which Jackson could be heard saying, “you’re gonna die,” and “I just beat your ass, I’ll beat your ass again.”

Traquan Diaveonmartez Jackson/Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office

About 2:22 a.m. Saturday, the dispatcher aired to police in Northeast Minneapolis that a person who was shot had shown up at the hospital. There had been a report of shots heard about 20 minutes prior near 4th Street NE and 20th Avenue NE. Police later confirmed to media that a woman had been shot near the 1400 block of 4th Street NE in a parking lot after leaving a bar and was privately transported to the hospital.

Later Saturday night, police in North St. Paul were dispatched about 10:44 p.m. on a report of an assault involving shots fired at Casey Lake Park on the 2100 block of 17th Avenue. Initial dispatch audio indicated that several people had been shot at the location, where about 60 people had been gathered at a graduation celebration.

North St. Paul police later released a statement saying that four people had sustained gunshot injuries in the incident where officers from multiple law enforcement agencies had responded. No arrests had been made at the time, but the police statement said there was “no known threat to the public.” Police later clarified to media that the graduation gathering and the group firing shots were two separate events, not related to each other.

Just hours later, gunshots broke out at another gathering at Crosby Farm Park on the 2500 block of Shepard Road in St. Paul where three women were injured, two by gunfire, the other had a possible graze wound to the hand.

A third shooting injured three people Sunday night during a drive-by at a graduation gathering on the 1700 block of Rose Avenue, Fox 9 reported. One woman was shot in the leg, another sustained a graze wound to her head, and a man was shot in the stomach.

A 1-year-old was also accidentally shot in the hand on Saturday evening in St. Paul, KSTP reported. Few details were provided, but the child was brought to the hospital by his parents, who said the shooting happened at home.

Another person was shot in the head inside a vehicle in Minneapolis Tuesday night on the 400 block of 23rd Avenue North. Two children, approximate ages one and four, had been inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting and were found nearby by police uninjured, according to scanner audio. Police confirmed Wednesday night that the male victim died of his injuries.

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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.