MPD chief: Shooting that wounded two children in Minneapolis was not random

Minneapolis police don't believe an early morning shooting that put two children in the hospital was committed at random, although the 7- and 11-year-old victims were not the intended targets, Chief Brian O'Hara said at a news conference Wednesday.

The two kids were struck by bullets fired from the street into the second floor of their north Minneapolis duplex, located on the 3000 block of Emerson Avenue N., shortly after 3:30 a.m. The 7-year-old girl suffered a gunshot wound to the knee; the 11-year-old boy was grazed by a shot, according to police. Both kids were taken to North Memorial Health Hospital and are expected to recover.

"We are outraged whenever our children are victimized by senseless violence, but we are thankful that the injuries appear to be non-life-threatening," O'Hara said.

He offered few details in this early stage of the investigation, but he said officers found evidence of shots fired from the street, including from an automatic weapon. He said police showed up after an activation from ShotSpotter technology alerted them to the shooting.

He pledged that his department will "continue to work around the clock" to solve the case and bring the shooters to justice.

Despite this latest act of violence, O'Hara said police data is showing positive trends on violent crime this summer.

After three of the bloodiest years on record, gun violence has fallen across Minneapolis these past seven months, with about 20 fewer murders, 30% less reported gunfire and nearly 40% fewer gunshot victims, according to data analyzed by the Star Tribune.

"What we are doing is working," O'Hara said. "It is resulting in fewer families being affected by gun violence."

There have been no arrests. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact CrimeStoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or at CrimeStoppersMN.org.

Staff writers Paul Walsh and Jeff Hargarten contributed to this story.