Twelve individuals were injured in two separate mass shootings at homeless encampments in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Monday, September 15, 2025, marking the fourth and fifth such incidents in the city within a span of three weeks.
The first shooting took place shortly after 11 a.m. near East Lake Street and Stevens Avenue, resulting in five injuries, with one person in critical condition. The second shooting occurred around 10 p.m. at another encampment located approximately two miles away on South 28th Avenue and East Lake Street, where seven people were shot, and about 30 rounds were fired.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported that an officer stationed at a nearby Target store was approached by several people fleeing the second shooting, who informed him of the gunfire at the encampment. Upon reaching the scene, officers found five injured individuals, including a man and a woman, inside tents with head wounds. Three more victims managed to reach hospitals on their own.
At least four individuals from the second incident were critically injured. Investigators recovered multiple shell casings from the site, suggesting an exchange of gunfire between someone inside the encampment and the shooter. A fire also broke out in one of the tents during the police response, necessitating intervention by firefighters.
Mayor Jacob Frey expressed frustration over the recurring violence, stating that officials “wouldn’t be surprised” if the two shootings were connected. Police Chief O’Hara described the investigations as preliminary but confirmed that detectives are exploring potential links between the incidents.
The second shooting took place at an encampment embroiled in a prolonged dispute between city officials and property owner Hamoudi Sabri. The city has attempted to clear the site due to safety and health issues, but Sabri has resisted, allowing about 30 people to remain.
Frey highlighted that the encampment is situated on private property and that the city’s clearance efforts have faced resistance from the property owner. The mayor stressed that homeless encampments pose safety risks for both residents and surrounding communities.
In response to the shooting, city officials swiftly moved to clear the encampment despite an ongoing legal battle with Sabri. Minneapolis has imposed approximately $15,000 in fines on the landlord for violating public health laws. The Minneapolis City Council had recently approved a motion to pursue a lawsuit against Sabri.
City Operations Officer Margaret Anderson Kelliher estimated that cleanup costs would exceed $50,000, which the city hopes to recover through the lawsuit. When outreach teams offered services, including shelter, to the remaining 30 individuals at the site after the shooting, only one accepted.
Police Chief O’Hara suggested the shooting was linked to drug activity and involved multiple shooters. He noted the presence of drug paraphernalia and needles throughout the encampment, indicating that these environments create conditions where disputes cannot be resolved through normal channels.
The recent shootings contribute to a particularly violent period for Minneapolis, which has experienced five mass shootings in three weeks. On August 27, a gunman attacked Annunciation Catholic School, resulting in the deaths of two children and injuries to at least 18 others before taking his own life. Another incident on August 26 left one person dead and six wounded in southwest Minneapolis when a shooter fired at least 30 rounds with a high-powered rifle at a group standing on a street corner.
Sabri defended his decision to maintain the encampment, arguing that city leaders have neglected the Lake Street area and that displacement does not address the root causes of homelessness. He criticized the city’s response as focusing on making the problem less visible rather than addressing the underlying issues.
The clearing of the encampment on Tuesday morning created tensions as former residents disputed the closure process. Approximately 50 former residents and protesters gathered as city workers loaded belongings and debris into garbage trucks. Several individuals were detained during scuffles with officers, with some residents expressing frustration about not being able to retrieve personal items, including identification cards, clothing, and irreplaceable personal belongings.
No arrests have been announced in either shooting. Of note, police arrested a man on Sept. 18 on suspicion of aiding and abetting after the fact (he was later released pending charges). The investigations continue as authorities work to determine whether the incidents are connected and identify those responsible for the violence.