Brawl inside Robbinsdale hospital involving dozens results in lockdown

Dozens of people brawled inside North Memorial Health Hospital on Thursday and had the Robbinsdale facility in lockdown until police restored order, authorities said.

The disruption involving from 50 to 75 people erupted about noon, when someone with a nonlethal gunshot wound was brought from Faribault, Minn., to the hospital for treatment, said Robbinsdale Police Chief Jim Franzen.

That person's presence drew family and acquaintances to the hospital, and "an altercation broke out among various members" in the crowd, the chief said.

Officers stopped the fighting and left the participants screaming at one another and banging on windows and doors outside the portion of the hospital that was locked down for about 90 minutes.

Franzen said one person was arrested but later released. No injuries were reported among civilians or officers, and the chief said rumors of gunfire proved unfounded.