Police on Tuesday arrested two people and were seeking a third after a shooting in Northwest Rochester, MN.

In 2014, Rochester, MN was ranked No. 2 on Livability.com’s second annual national list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live.

Rochester, MN is now a gateway city for refugee resettlement and it is being systematically destroyed. Violent crime is at unprecedented levels. Daily reports of gunfights are not uncommon.

Authorities received multiple emergency calls about 12:50 p.m., reporting shots fired in a parking lot at Minnwest Bank, 331 16th Ave. NW. According to Sgt. Frank Ohm of the Rochester Police Department, the incident involved “three to four black males fighting,” and shots were fired.

One or two individuals ran south, and one or two individuals ran north away from the parking lot, Ohm added. Two suspects were arrested down the street and were taken into custody for further questioning.

UPDATE: Attempted murder charges have been filed against the two Rochester men arrested as suspects in Tuesday’s shooting near the Olive Garden restaurant.

Arraigned Thursday were 21-year-old Abdi Abukar and 22-year-old Idris Haji-Mohamed. Conditional bail for the two suspects was set at $500,000.

For Ohm, the location of the shooting was considered “highly unusual” since it took place in broad daylight and surrounded by multiple businesses.

Multiple witnesses have identified Abukar as the one who was firing shots at a third man as he ran through the parking lot of the restaurant just before 1 p.m.

The gun suspected of being used in the shooting was found near where the two men were apprehended. Police suspect a second gun was involved. And, at least one witness told police it appeared two men were shooting at each other. The man who was being fired at is still being sought.

Police aren’t sure what the motive was for the shooting because the two suspects have not given a statement. It’s suspected it may be related to two recent shootings in the city.

Pamela Gellar

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