Over the weekend, the Minneapolis Police Department investigated two back-to-back fatal shootings at separate homeless encampments in the city, resulting in three deaths. No arrests have been made yet. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey connected the recent violence at encampments to the drug fentanyl. The first shooting occurred on Saturday morning, leaving three men injured and one dead. The second shooting occurred on Sunday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of two men and injuries to a woman. Police have not ruled out the possibility that the two shootings are related and the case remains under investigation.
Frey attributed the increase in homicides and shootings around homeless encampments to the presence of fentanyl in the community. Drug dealers lace fentanyl into other illicit drugs to increase their potency. The city council pushed back against this stance, emphasizing the need for a “housing-first model” to address homelessness and provide support services to those in need. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara emphasized the importance of addressing the cycle of violence exacerbated by narcotics and mental health issues.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release the victims’ identities and official cause and manner of death. The department continues to offer resources to those living in encampments, urging them to accept help to end the cycle of violence. The investigation into the shootings is ongoing, with police working to locate suspects and determine the motives behind the attacks.
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