MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis city leaders on Tuesday addressed the spate of shootings and “fireworks wars” on the Fourth of July holiday.
Mayor Jacob Frey said the “recklessness and callous disregard for the residents of our city is detracting from what should otherwise be a weekend of celebration.”
Hundreds of people gathered Monday night at Boom Island Park and Stone Arch Bridge as cars drove through the Mill District, shooting fireworks at buildings and people.
By the end of the night, at least 10 people were injured in the violence.
Minneapolis Police Department leaders said they didn’t know ahead of time what would happen, so officer staffing is at normal levels.
Some neighbors who watched flashy fireworks on downtown streets for hours said it felt like the city had no plan for the celebration.
“It became a pretty chaotic scene with fast and furious donuts down the street, cars going over 60 miles an hour,” said Mike, who lives near the Stone Arch Bridge.
Bruce, another neighbor, said he had no fear of crime in the city until Monday night.
“[It] it was the first time I was like, ‘This is crazy and it could go to a really bad place,'” he said.
When police came to their neighborhood after several 911 calls from residents, they were unable to clear the groups on the street that neighbors saw taunting officers.
“You send [officers] where they’re just outnumbered by crowds, and that’s the problem,” Mike said.
The number of active-duty MPD officers has fallen by more than 150 from the required minimum.
about 80 employees were on duty Monday night, no more than a typical shift.
“The Monday of a long weekend is not typically considered the most resource-intensive,” Deputy Chief Eric Force said.
Frey said officers played a mole game with more than 1,300 calls to 911 from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. This is the volume of a typical day.
Hundreds of people gathered at various locations, including Boom Island Park, where seven people were shot.
“One of the main ways we can minimize these incidents is to look for ways to deny access to these areas for people to congregate after hours,” Huffman said.
At least two others were shot elsewhere in the city.
Police are reporting one arrest from the night a police officer was assaulted and suffered minor injuries.
City Council member Michael Rainville, who represents the neighborhood near the Stone Arch Bridge, told WCCO he believes the city should request help from the National Guard until MPD is fully staffed.
A spokesperson for Mayor Frey says they won’t be doing that at this time, but the city welcomes the help and support of other law enforcement agencies.
Frey says everyone in the city has a responsibility to improve safety, including city leadership, MPD and people in the community.
“If you are a parent of children who have been out [Monday night] you have to know where they are, Frey said. “If you have friends who have engaged in this horrible behavior, you need to tell them.”
Frey says a commissioner for the Office of Public Safety will be appointed next week.
David Shuman
David joined the WCCO staff in April 2020, having previously worked at CBS 58 in Milwaukee. He previously worked in Las Vegas. While there, David covered several stories in the national spotlight, including the Oct. 1 mass shooting and political visits by President Barack Obama and candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
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