Fight turns into fatal shooting on Hennepin Avenue and 5th Street
A deadly shooting has taken the lives of two and injured three others — including juveniles — following another fight near Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Street North, the Minneapolis Police Department said.
Police said they were attempting to break up multiple altercations around 1:56 a.m. Saturday at the intersection when gunfire was heard.
Heading toward the area of the gunshots, officers found five people had been injured from gunfire.
All five were transported to the hospital, with life-saving measures being attempted on two individuals. However, police said a 20-year-old male and a 21-year-old male later died from their injuries at the hospital.
The 21-year-old was identified Monday as Lunden Marcel Woodberry. He died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide.
The 20-year-old was identified as Benjamin Hezekiah Haggray. He died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The three other victims received non-life-threatening injuries. Two of those injured were girls ages 16 and 17, while the third was a 23-year-old woman.
One person has been arrested for riot, but a suspect behind the shooting has not been charged at this time. Police say investigators recovered a firearm at the scene Saturday morning.
“Five families had their lives changed last night and our hearts go out to them,” Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell said. “It’s extraordinarily tragic what we’re seeing across the country that these arguments escalate into violence so quickly and particularly to gun violence.”
The shooting comes one week after 16-year-old De’Miaya Broome was killed at the same intersection when 22-year-old Latalia Anjolie Margalli allegedly drove into a crowd of people involved in a fight. It is not believed at this time the two incidents are related.
As investigators search for shooting suspects, Blackwell said MPD will have additional officers on patrol in the area of Fifth and Hennepin starting Saturday night. There will also be assistance from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and a continued presence from a local group of violence interrupters known as 21 Days of Peace.
“So, we’re able to intervene before it happens, and normally we’re able to get the people together and get it dissipated,” shared Rev. Jerry McAfee, founder of the local chapter of 21 Days of Peace.
Although on Saturday morning, “it happened way too quick for that,” Rev. McAfee said.
McAfee said the back-to-back deadly Saturday mornings involving altercations among young people have been tiring and disheartening, with families losing loved ones far too young.
“It’s very exhausting, but right now, we have no choice in stopping. We got to keep going. We got to keep going,” McAfee said. “We just want to help. We want folks to live.”
Blackwell said police are working to identify why violence has seen an uptick in the area.
“I’m not sure why it’s happening,” Blackwell said. “We’re scheduling meetings with licensing to see if there is a particular business — why they’re hanging out down here.”
Blackwell said they are continuing to investigate and are hoping to have a suspect in custody “soon.”