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Police connect downtown Minneapolis shootout and crash responsible for bystander's death

Minneapolis Police say they recovered guns from two vehicles that crashed at the intersection of 5th St. North and 6th Ave. North Wednesday night.

MINNEAPOLIS — Police believe a shootout and crash that happened in two different downtown Minneapolis locations Wednesday night are connected, and are responsible for the death of an innocent bystander.

According to Minneapolis police, officers first responded to gunshots near the 1800 block of Nicollet Ave. South just after 11 p.m., where witnesses said there had been a fight between people in at least two different vehicles.

Minutes later, more officers responded to the intersection at 5th St. North and 6th Ave. North for a crash involving two cars. According to police, an early investigation found that the two vehicles were speeding and occupants in one or both cars were shooting just before the crash.

Police said the crash caused one of vehicles to jump a curb and hit an adult woman riding a scooter on the sidewalk. That victim was pronounced dead at the scene; the Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release more details about her identity and cause of death at a later date.

"It is my understanding that the female on the scooter was doing exactly that, she was out on a scooter riding down the sidewalk and she was an innocent bystander of what appears to be a violent exchange between cars," said Minneapolis Police Department spokesman, Garrett Parten. 

The victim's uncle says the victim was on the way home from work when the crash happened. 

"I got a phone call at one in the morning, and my sister said it was her, my niece got ran over and killed by these people," said Miguel Macial. "I can't believe it, it hurts bad."

Based on the evidence, Minneapolis police have declared the woman's death a homicide, the 74th in the city this year.

Multiple men were taken to the hospital with serious injuries that appeared to be from the crash, police said. Guns were found in both vehicles at the scene.

At this point, police have reason to believe the vehicles seen on Nicollet Ave. South are the same ones involved in the crash, and that the two incidents are related.

Police say no one has been arrested or charged yet in connection to this case.

Anyone with information about the people involved in the crash should contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You can also submit a tip online.

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