MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A group of six children, ranging in age from 11 to 14, were apprehended following a series of armed robberies and subsequent car crashes on Interstate 94, as confirmed by the Minneapolis Police Department.
The sequence of events started around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, with an armed robbery reported on the 5100 block of 41st Avenue South. Shortly afterward, a second armed robbery occurred on the 3400 block of Bloomington Avenue, during which shots were fired at a victim. Thankfully, no one was harmed by the gunfire.
A third incident followed around 1:30 p.m. near 24th Street and Pleasant Avenue. Detecting a pattern in these robberies, law enforcement activated a crime pattern response protocol. Officers from multiple agencies, including the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Patrol, intensified their patrols to find those responsible.
The situation escalated with numerous 911 calls reporting reckless driving in Minneapolis. Police tracked one suspect vehicle, attempting a traffic stop. However, the driver fled, initiating a police chase that ended in a collision on westbound I-94 near Cedar Avenue.
Four occupants of the crashed vehicle were quickly captured after attempting to flee on foot. Nearby, a second stolen vehicle also crashed, with two individuals fleeing and subsequently apprehended. Other vehicles were involved in the crash, but there were no injuries reported among those drivers.
The detained juveniles comprised three boys, aged 11, 12, and 13, and three girls, aged 12 and 14. They were taken to local hospitals for evaluations due to non-life-threatening injuries from the crashes. Following their medical assessments, authorities planned to detain them at the Juvenile Detention Center.
Police reports highlighted that the 12-year-old boy had several prior encounters with law enforcement, while the others had minimal or no previous contacts. The youth without significant criminal history will be directed toward juvenile diversion programs to potentially steer them away from future illegal activities.