Minneapolis gunfire injures soccer coach

Minneapolis Police told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS there were multiple gunshots fired near the Urban Ventures soccer field while kids were practicing, and one of the coaches was grazed across his chest by a stray bullet.

The coach is expected to survive his injuries. Police said none of the children were injured.

A spokesperson for the Minneapolis Police Department said there were approximately 50 kids, coaches and families at the soccer field at Fifth Avenue South and 29th Street, who were not the targets when multiple people started shooting at each other around 6 p.m. Monday.

Alan Goroztieta, the Urban Ventures soccer coordinator, told KSTP he was on an adjacent soccer field when the gunfire started. He said he witnessed at least five young men "running with handguns" and then saw the kids, coaches and family members on the other field scrambling for cover.

"The bullets were coming from the direction of the men running and the people on the other soccer field went down on the ground and could hear the bullets hitting the ground," said Goroztieta. "One of the moms said that she actually heard two bullets above her head and it was super dangerous."

Gorotzieta said he saw "at least 50 shell casings" on the ground after the shooting stopped. He then checked on the kids playing on his field and then went to check on the people who took cover on the other field to make sure everyone was safe.

"Looking at the kids’ faces, I knew they were terrified, and I don’t think it is fair because they come here to be safe, you know. This is their escape," said Goroztieta. "And honestly, this is the craziest thing I ever experienced here at Urban Ventures, where I have been coming to play and now coach soccer for the past 12 years."

David Hawn, Urban Ventures president and CEO, told KSTP he had not experienced anything like Monday’s gunfire in his 27 years at the nonprofit. He plans to talk with parents, children, coaches and police about the incident Wednesday night.

"I was relieved it was not worse because it could have been much worse, and I am thankful that our coach is going to be OK and that the children and families were not injured," said Hawn. "But with that said, I am very frustrated and I am angry."

Soccer events were canceled Tuesday night, Hawn said. However, they are expected to resume sometime this week.

An MPD spokesperson said no arrests have been made regarding this incident.