A massive law-enforcement response descended on downtown Minneapolis Wednesday afternoon after gunfire erupted at a multi-story apartment building near the Minneapolis Convention Center.

At least one person is dead and six others are injured, according to the latest confirmed hospital count. Two Minneapolis police officers are among the wounded.

The response centered on 15 East Grant Street, near Nicollet Avenue in the Loring Park area. Officers armed with rifles trained their attention on the upper floors as ambulances and armored vehicles filled the surrounding blocks.

Early video from the scene captured the scale of the emergency response:

The social post above carried an early report that three people had been pronounced dead at the scene. That number has not been confirmed by police or hospital officials.

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The confirmed count from Hennepin Healthcare is seven patients received, with one dead and six injured. In a fast-moving attack, that distinction matters.

CBS Minnesota reports that a source said the suspected shooter was down, an account the station said was supported by police scanner traffic. Minneapolis authorities had not yet released a complete official account of how the gunman was stopped.

A high-ranking official told the station that the two wounded officers were likely to be all right. Their exact conditions had not been formally released.

The police response drew personnel from Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Edina, the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Patrol, Metro Transit Police and sheriff’s offices from surrounding jurisdictions. ATF agents from the St. Paul field division also responded.

Police asked the public to stay out of a broad area bounded by 12th Street, Franklin Avenue, Hennepin Avenue and Third Avenue South while officers worked through the building.

City officials issued this warning shortly after the shooting:

Witness Abdiwakil Mohamed told CBS Minnesota that he heard three shots that sounded as if they came from a rifle while he was driving on La Salle Avenue.

Mohamed said he saw an officer who had been shot inside a squad car accelerate and strike another vehicle. He also described gunfire coming from a high position in the building and said more people on the ground were being targeted.

Several stretchers were seen coming out of the apartment complex. Some of the people brought out appeared to have leg injuries, while the conditions of the other victims were not immediately clear.

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The Associated Press reported that Minneapolis police began responding just after 4:30 p.m. and warned people to avoid the densely populated neighborhood near the convention center. Hospital officials told the outlet that seven patients were brought to Hennepin County Medical Center; one patient did not survive.

Video from the scene showed officers aiming rifles toward the apartment tower. Officials had not released the conditions of the six surviving patients, including the two wounded officers.

Minnesota state personnel were sent to support local law enforcement. Gov. Tim Walz said his public-safety team was on the ground and asked Minnesotans to pray for the first responders.

Federal authorities joined the response as the operation expanded:

The FBI said its personnel were responding and that the bureau would provide whatever resources local authorities needed.

Police had not publicly identified the person who died, the other wounded civilians, or the suspected shooter as of Wednesday evening. A motive had not been announced.

This remains a developing story.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.

 

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