MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the department is activating additional resources after six violent incidents occurred Saturday night into Sunday morning, resulting in three people being killed. In total, Chief O'Hara said there have been 10 violent incidents since Thursday — nine shootings (two fatal) and one fatal stabbing.
"This weekend we've seen an unacceptable level of crime and violence," O'Hara said, during a press conference on Sunday afternoon.
O'Hara said he assembled the command staff and the Minneapolis Police Department's (MPD) partners in the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to help.
O'Hara also is receiving investigative and patrol assistance from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). O'Hara said there will be an increase in patrols in current trouble spots across the city.
"The residents will see starting tonight [Sunday], but especially tomorrow and for the rest of the week, there will be visible stepped up enforcement. We'll have an operation going on all week long with all of our partners," O'Hara said.
He later went on to say, "I'm incredibly grateful for everyone's willingness to help Minneapolis on a moment's notice."
The first of the three suspected homicides occurred on Saturday night, according to the MPD.
Officers responded to a shooting on the 2600 block of 3rd Avenue S at 7:13 p.m. and found a 20-year-old man who had been shot. The man was taken to Hennepin Healthcare where he later died, according to the MPD. Preliminary information indicates that the injured man was outside when shots were fired. No arrests have been made in this case.
Another man was found with life-threatening gunshot wounds near the 3200 block of Penn Avenue N just after 1 a.m. on Sunday. In that instance, officers found a 45-year-old man who was receiving care from Minneapolis firefighters. He was taken to North Memorial Health where he later died, according to the MPD. No arrests have been made.
In the third incident, a man died in the hospital after being stabbed multiple times at a party in Minneapolis, police said. According to officials, officers responded to a stabbing in a home on the 3400 block of Penn Avenue N. around 3:15 Sunday morning. Police found 31-year-old Troy Dean Friend with multiple stab wounds. According to MPD, preliminary information indicates that an altercation inside the house escalated to a stabbing, and Friend was killed. One arrest has been made in the case.
Other than the three suspected homicides, the MPD is investigating seven other shootings that left seven men injured.
Although O'Hara is concerned about the recent incidents, he also pointed out what MPD saw this weekend with events like the Minneapolis Aquatennial.
"At the same time, also, I think it's important to highlight that there were thousands and thousands of people who came to the city this weekend and were able to do so safely," O'Hara said. "But clearly it shows... we have a lot of work to do in a number of areas that are problematic and it's incredibly important that we continue to push for staffing the police department so that we're able to prevent some of these incidents better. But, if nothing else, certainly respond to and investigate them thoroughly."
O'Hara said, at this time, it does not appear that any of these 10 incidents are related. So far, there have been two arrests.
Anyone with information about any of the incidents is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit online.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.