MINNEAPOLIS — The city again fell somber after news spread that Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell was shot and killed while responding to a call just south of downtown Thursday evening.
MPD Chief Brian O'Hara expressed his sorrow for Mitchell last night.
"I'm struggling to find the words to properly express how deep this tragedy is," O'Hara said from a late-night press conference. "We are a department that is mourning; officers are hurting and I am angry. There are no words to appropriately describe this tragedy, because they just don't exist."
Thirty-six-year-old Mitchell, who had served with the MPD for less than two years, was killed when responding to a call about a shooting in the Whittier neighborhood. O'Hara said officers were met when gunfire when they arrived, and somewhere in the exchange of bullets, Mitchell and two others, including the suspect, were killed and four others injured -- including another MPD officer and a firefighter.
"I am angry and deeply hurt by the senseless, and just, violent attack on one of Minneapolis finest," O'Hara said. "I knew, Jamal. I had the distinct honor of swearing him in as a member of this agency. ... Jamal loved the job, he loved the MPD and he was faithful to the oath that he swore until his death."
At the time of Mitchell's death, he was engaged to be married and was a father of four. Noting the current climate surrounding policing across the country, O'Hara said Mitchell was now "the latest victim of a senseless and troubling trend."
"... He was one of the few that have the courage to stand up and answer the call every day. He died doing what we asked him to do on behalf of others; Jamal did his job.
"As tragic as this is, I know we are not alone in Minneapolis," he said. "It's become too easy to attack our police and it needs to stop."
Asking the community to "remember the dangers our police officers are willing to face," O'Hara then made one last request.
"Most importantly, I ask that you keep Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell, friends and family, in your prayers."
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