Minneapolis Shooting Kills 2, Wounds Officers in Downtown Apartment Building

Two people were killed and at least five others wounded, including three police officers, after gunfire erupted in a high-rise apartment building at 15 East Grant Street in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday afternoon. Officers responded to the scene around 4:36 p.m. and encountered victims in the lobby before following the sound of gunfire to an upper floor, where a haze significantly limited their visibility. The suspected shooter died at the scene.

What happened during the shooting

Officers were dispatched to the Loring Tower apartment building just after 4:30 p.m. on September 2 after receiving a 911 call reporting one person shot. Additional callers reported more gunfire, and the situation was quickly escalated to an active shooter incident. When officers entered the building around 4:39 p.m., they found victims in the lobby and heard additional gunshots coming from an upper floor. As officers pursued the gunfire, they encountered a haze that severely limited visibility. One person was fatally shot at the scene, and another died after arriving at Hennepin County Medical Center. Three additional civilians were shot and hospitalized.

Police officers injured in the response

Three Minneapolis police officers were injured during the response. Two were struck by gunfire: one was shot in the leg with a non-life-threatening injury, and another was shot twice in the abdomen and underwent surgery. A third officer was injured but not by gunshot and is expected to make a full recovery. According to Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson, all three officers are in stable condition. Additionally, four other officers experienced adverse effects after being exposed to an unknown airborne substance, and two officers were injured when their squad car crashed while responding to the scene.

Suspect identified and circumstances

The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Carlton Neal Johnson, died by suicide at the scene. Police said they were familiar with the suspect before the shooting. According to sources, Johnson had been evicted from the apartment building earlier that same day. A witness, Julius Bailey, said he recognized the man holding the pistol as a resident known for showing off his weapon. Bailey said he heard a woman screaming and counted eight shots. Another resident, Chris Miller, reported encountering someone with a handgun in the hallway earlier in the week and had reported the incident to building management.

Response and official reaction

The shooting drew an extraordinary show of force from law enforcement agencies across the region, including the Minnesota State Patrol, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minneapolis Park Police, St. Paul Police Department, and multiple suburban departments. Mayor Jacob Frey praised the officers’ heroic response, stating that officers rescued victims and brought people to safety while under fire. Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson called the incident “the cowardly acts of a violent shooter” and expressed that he was “truly sickened by this level of violence.” Governor Tim Walz thanked emergency services and said state officials were on the ground assisting local law enforcement. Peterson said officers were expected to make a full recovery.

Final Thoughts

The downtown Minneapolis shooting marks another mass shooting in a public space, occurring just five miles from Annunciation Catholic Church, where a shooter killed two children and wounded 27 others a year ago. All three injured officers are expected to recover. The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of gun violence in American cities.

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