A Minneapolis police officer was shot and injured in what authorities are calling an ambush on the city’s north side. The incident occurred on Friday evening. The officer, a seven-year veteran, was hospitalized for a few hours before being released early Saturday morning. Upon his release, he was met with applause and support from fellow officers.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, the officer began following a white Chevy Equinox around 8 p.m. on Friday. The vehicle was allegedly connected to a robbery that took place the previous day in Brooklyn Park. The officer was driving an unmarked, “unconventional” vehicle at the time. While on the 4300 block of Colfax Avenue North, the officer was suddenly met with a barrage of 14 rounds of automatic gunfire, resulting in a gunshot wound to the back of his shoulder. Chief O’Hara believes the shots were fired from the Chevy. The injured officer was then transported to the hospital.
Following the shooting, other officers located the Chevy near Lyndale Avenue North and 42nd Avenue North and initiated a pursuit. The chase ended when the Chevy crashed into an unoccupied parked car near 21st Avenue and Upton Avenue North. At the scene, law enforcement apprehended two men, a woman, and a boy. Police also recovered a firearm in the process. Chief O’Hara stated that a warrant has been requested to search the interior of the vehicle.
The two men and the boy were taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Chief O’Hara expressed gratitude and relief that the injured officer survived, emphasizing the daily risks officers face while serving and protecting their communities.
Law enforcement agencies are still continuing their investigation into the incident, and further details are expected to emerge in the coming days.