Minneapolis police confirmed that more than a dozen people were injured in two separate shootings at homeless encampments on the same day, deepening fears over escalating violence in the city. The first incident took place at a transit station, while the second struck an encampment just two miles away. Authorities described the back-to-back attacks as another tragic sign of mass shootings becoming disturbingly routine. Tensions between city officials and housing activists have now intensified in the wake of the violence.
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Transit Station Shooting
The first shooting occurred at a Minneapolis transit station, leaving five people injured. Police highlighted that the same area has already been the site of two shootings within the past month, raising alarm over repeated violence in a single neighborhood. Witnesses reported panic as victims were transported to local hospitals. Investigators are working to identify suspects and motives, with the incident marking another blow to community safety.
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Police Chief’s Warning
Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemned the recurring violence, saying, “Here we are yet again in the aftermath of a mass shooting. This is not normal.” His statement underscored growing concern over the normalization of mass gun violence in Minneapolis. O’Hara’s comments reflect frustration within law enforcement as resources are stretched thin by repeated mass casualty events. Residents have expressed unease, questioning whether current strategies are sufficient to curb the ongoing cycle of shootings.
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Second Encampment Attack
Only two miles away, a second shooting wounded eight people at an encampment located on private property. The site has long been controversial due to its ties to landlord and activist Hamoudi Sabri, who allowed unhoused people to live there as a form of protest against city policies. The violence highlighted the vulnerability of encampments and reignited debates over whether officials are doing enough to address the root causes of homelessness. Police say investigations are ongoing at both crime scenes.
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Activist Landlord Criticism
Hamoudi Sabri, who has been involved in homeless activism since 2021, voiced sharp criticism of the city’s response. “If this city truly treated these shootings like the emergencies they are, people would already see grief and trauma counselors on the ground,” he said. Sabri argued that city leaders rely on displacement as their primary solution, adding, “Bulldoze people’s tents, fence off their space, and call it leadership.” His comments point to a widening rift between grassroots activists and municipal authorities.
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City Clears Encampment
In the aftermath of the shooting, city officials moved quickly to clear the encampment on Sabri’s property. The removal could effectively end a long-running legal battle between Sabri and the city, which has sought to shut down the site for months. Critics contend that clearing encampments only worsens instability and trauma for unhoused individuals, while supporters of removal argue it is necessary to maintain public safety. The decision has already sparked renewed debate over the city’s handling of homelessness.
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Escalating Violence Trend
The two shootings are part of a troubling pattern, with Minneapolis recording five mass shootings in just two weeks. One of the most recent incidents occurred at a Catholic school, leaving two children dead. The surge in violence has intensified scrutiny on both law enforcement strategies and broader systemic issues. Advocates say the crisis reflects not just public safety failures but also deepening social inequality and a lack of affordable housing.
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National Policy Debate
The local tragedies come amid a broader national reckoning over homelessness. A Trump executive order issued this month directed governments to begin “shifting” unhoused individuals into “long-term institutional settings,” sparking fears of criminalization. Critics argue such measures risk treating poverty as a crime rather than a social issue. Meanwhile, inflammatory rhetoric has worsened the debate: Fox News host Brian Kilmeade suggested “involuntary lethal injection” for homeless individuals, saying, “Just kill ’em.” Such remarks have drawn widespread condemnation from advocacy groups.