Minnesotans plan to gather throughout the day at the intersection of 38th and Chicago in Minneapolis for a one-year anniversary celebration commemorating the death of George Floyd.
But the day began with a shootout and the alleged harassment of a journalist. According to reporters on the ground, between a dozen and two dozen shots were fired one block from George Floyd Square around 10 a.m. Tuesday.
A live ABC broadcast captured the shots ringing out as did an Associated Press reporter who was in the middle of filming a segment.
Unbelievable if real: ABC broadcast from George Floyd Square interrupted by shooting pic.twitter.com/vo6WoeB1PB
— Kyle Hooten (@KyleHooten2) May 25, 2021
He later reported that a fellow journalist “had her phone smashed because she took photos of a storefront hit by a bullet.”
Here’s the moment shots were fired near George Floyd Square earlier this morning. pic.twitter.com/NIWRBr6b9Y
— Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) May 25, 2021
Crime Watch Minneapolis confirmed that there were multiple reports of shots fired at the square. One resident reportedly discovered blood on their garage door after hearing the shots ring out. One gunshot wound victim arrived at Abbott Northwestern Hospital about 30 minutes after the incident, but it hasn’t been confirmed if the person’s injuries were related. Police located an unoccupied vehicle involved in the shooting around noon.
One neighbor reporting blood on their garage after hearing the shots.
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) May 25, 2021
The site where Floyd died has been controlled by activists for nearly a year and several reports have claimed that police are hesitant to respond to calls within the area. Often referred to as a “no-go zone” or “autonomous zone,” the area has experienced at least five homicides since Floyd’s death.
Like most major cities, Minneapolis is in the middle of a historic crime wave that shows few signs of slowing down as summer approaches.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.