Two men are dead and another was critically injured in a drive-by shooting near the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds around 8 p.m. Monday night.
Available emergency dispatch audio described the suspects as three black males in a black sports car, but a source tells Alpha News they were Somali.
Further dispatch audio indicated that approximately 30 shots were fired. One person was shot in the chest and another had agonal breathing. Responders described multiple crime scenes and also requested that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) be notified.
The Willmar Police Department released a statement Tuesday morning confirming two men died, including one who later showed up at a local hospital. The statement said:
“On 09/21/2026 at 8:00 pm, Willmar Police were dispatched to the area of Rau Park, located at the 1000 block of 7th St. NW for a report of gunshots. Dispatch advised officers there were potentially two or three people injured.
Police and emergency medical personnel arrived on scene and began providing life saving measures to two male individuals. One was a 19-year-old male, and the other was a 20-year-old male. Both were from Wilmar and were transported to Carris Hospital by ambulance. One of the parties was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The other party was flown by helicopter to the St. Cloud Hospital and is in critical condition.
A third party, a 19-year-old male from Willmar, was transported to the Willmar Carris Hospital by a personal vehicle. That party was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Police secured the scene, began investigating and taking witness statements. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s crime lab was contacted to assist with the investigation. At the time of this press release, they are still on scene, processing the crime scene.
Police believe this is an isolated incident and was not a random act of violence. Police do not believe there is a current public threat.
Names have been withheld to allow time for family notifications. More information will be released in the future as the case evolves and additional facts become available.
This case is very fluid and remains an active investigation.
The Willmar Police Department was assisted by the Kandiyohi Sheriff’s Office, Carris Ambulance Service and the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.”
A post shared with Alpha News named “Khalid, Yasir, and Guled” in connection to the incident and indicated they were the deceased and injured parties.
TWO DEAD in overnight drive-by SHOOTING at the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds. Suspects were described as three black males in a black sports car, but a source says they were Somalis. Approximately 30 shots were fired. One person was shot in the chest, one had agonal breathing.… pic.twitter.com/LNA40H2zUB
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) September 22, 2026
Willmar police say the incident was not random and there’s no threat to the public.
Alpha News will continue to follow developments in the case.
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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.
