A three-year-old boy has become at least the fifth child to be struck by gunfire in several weeks in Minneapolis, and the city’s police chief responded with very pointed words.
“The biggest threat to public safety in our city, and particularly to our African-American community, is not the police,” said Chief Medaria Arradondo. “We have an epidemic right now of unequivocal gun violence particularly in our African-American communities. And that must stop.”
Arradondo just said the quiet part out loud for the first time ever. About damn time. #Minneapolis #MinneapolisCrime #MinneapolisPolice pic.twitter.com/FBVhsLBdLe
— MinneapolisCrimeID (@id_crime) July 10, 2021
The chief’s remarks came during a press conference on Saturday afternoon regarding the shooting, which took place on Friday night on the 3300 block of Emerson Avenue North in Minneapolis.
Police were called to the address about 9:47 p.m. on a report of a child being shot. Initial police dispatches indicated the child was 10, but information was later updated stating the child was three years old.
The chief said when officers arrived at the location of the shooting, they observed that the child had suffered a critical gunshot wound. Officers made the decision to transport the child to the hospital in a squad car instead of waiting for the ambulance, which was reported to be three or four minutes away.
Chief Arradondo praised the officers for their quick action and said they “made the right choice.” He said had the officers not made the decision to transport, he could very well be reporting the death of another child in Minneapolis.
Police dispatch audio from the incident indicated that police made it to the hospital with the child within about two minutes after they made the decision to transport.
Police also found another adult male victim at the scene with a reported gunshot wound to the shoulder, according to initial dispatch audio.
The child and the adult male victim are expected to survive their injuries.
Several ShotSpotter activations were recorded immediately prior to the report of the shooting, according to dispatch audio, which stated that three, nine and 15 rounds had been detected by the gunshot detection system.
One clip of gunshot audio reported to be from the incident surfaced online following the shooting in which several rounds can be heard being fired.
— Friendly Libertarian (@Libertyfist) July 10, 2021
A resident’s doorbell camera video also recorded a barrage of shots from the incident.
Doorbell cam captured the sound of gunfire.
Also, police just found another "pile of casings" at 33xx Fremont Ave N. pic.twitter.com/T6jpv84c4f
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) July 10, 2021
This is the fifth child shot in north Minneapolis in just over two months.
Just over a week ago, an infant suffered a graze wound after bullets entered the vehicle in which they were riding on the 3400 block of Colfax Avenue North.
Ladavionne Garrett, Jr., 10, was shot in the head on April 30 while riding in a vehicle with his parents. He’s still in critical condition.
On May 15, Trinity Ottoson-Smith, 9, was struck by gunfire while jumping on a trampoline in a back yard. She died 12 days later.
On May 17, six-year-old Aniya Allen, granddaughter of peace activist KG Wilson, was shot in the head while riding in a vehicle with family. She died two days later.
Last week, Crime Stoppers announced an “enhanced reward” for information in the first three cases where the children had been shot. Anyone with information is asked to call 800.222.8477 or tips may be submitted electronically at www.CrimeStoppersMN.org. All tips are anonymous, and persons providing information leading to an arrest and conviction may be eligible for a financial reward.
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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.
