By Benson Daniel
Two people and the suspected gunman have died following a shooting at a high rise apartment building in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, while three police officers and several other people were injured during the incident.
Police responded to reports of gunfire at the apartment complex shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Officers entered the building within minutes and encountered victims inside before hearing additional gunshots coming from an upper floor.
The responding officers moved towards the gunfire but were confronted by difficult conditions inside the building, with police reporting a haze that significantly reduced visibility.
Two of the officers suffered gunshot wounds, while a third officer was also injured. All three were taken for medical treatment and were reported to be in stable condition. One of the wounded officers required surgery.
One civilian victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while another died after being taken to Hennepin County Medical Center. Several other injured people were transported to hospital for treatment.
The suspected shooter was also found dead at the scene. Police have not immediately provided a definitive explanation for how the suspect died, leaving that part of the incident under investigation.
The shooting occurred at an apartment complex near East Grant Street, in the Loring Park area of downtown Minneapolis. The incident prompted a major emergency response, with police and other agencies securing the building and surrounding streets as officers worked to establish that there was no continuing threat to the public.
Witnesses described hearing multiple shots and seeing residents fleeing the building as the situation unfolded. One resident said he saw a man believed to be a resident of the building carrying a handgun shortly before the shooting.
Authorities have not yet established a clear motive for the attack. Investigators are examining the circumstances leading up to the shooting and the relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victims.
The FBI has offered assistance to local authorities as the investigation continues, while Minnesota officials have expressed support for the victims, their families and the injured officers.
The incident has once again drawn attention to gun violence in Minneapolis, although authorities have cautioned that the investigation is still at an early stage and details about the circumstances remain subject to confirmation.
Police have urged members of the public to avoid the immediate area while investigators process the scene and gather evidence. Officials said the immediate threat had been contained following the discovery of the suspect’s body.
As investigators continue working to determine what led to the shooting, authorities are expected to provide further information about the victims, suspect and circumstances surrounding the deaths.
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