MPD: Fight at encampment leads to fatal shooting; encampment cleared
UPDATE 8/21 at 6:14 p.m.: The Hennepin County Medical Examiner identified the victim as JaBraun Garron Hole, 33, of Minneapolis.
Hole’s manner of death is classified as homicide.
An encampment in Minneapolis has been cleared after a fatal shooting Monday evening, according to police.
Officers responded to a shooting at the encampment on the 3300 block of Third Avenue South around 5 p.m.
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There, they found a 33-year-old man lying on the sidewalk. He was brought to the hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Investigators say a large fight broke out inside the encampment and spilled onto the street, where the shooting occurred. The man who had been shot walked down the sidewalk and collapsed.
The encampment has since been cleared, MPD confirmed.
No arrests have been made.
On Monday, there was a community meeting full of neighbors, advocates, city, county and state leaders who discussed concerns regarding the homeless encampment and possible solutions.
RELATED: City leaders, residents, advocates discuss next steps for Minneapolis homeless encampment
The property owner, Arne Johansson, said he’s been emailing city officials for the last two weeks about drug and violence concerns.
He feels if the city cleared the encampment, the shooting could have been avoided.
“Why aren’t they arresting people? They’re endangering this whole neighborhood,” a south Minneapolis property owner said. “Why isn’t anybody doing anything about it?”
Johannson owns the property that became the site of a homeless encampment for two weeks.
“It’s sad to see all the grass is destroyed,” Johansson said. “It’s sad because somebody died here yesterday.”
At a Monday community meeting before the shooting, Johannson told city and county leaders neighbors felt unsafe and the camp needed to be cleared.
About five hours after the meeting ended, Minneapolis police responded to the shooting near the intersection of 33rd Street and Third Avenue South.
“It took somebody to die and then within hours, they had this removed. So why couldn’t have they done that the very first day?” Johansson said.
“I have known this particular group of people who’ve been staying at this camp for over a year,” Naomi Wilson, an advocate for those experiencing homelessness, said.
Wilson explained she wants the conversation centered around homeless encampments to change.
“Rather than saying, ‘Oh, these people are pitching tents’ and instead saying, ‘These are neighbors who are not being cared for by our city,’” Wilson said.
Wilson feels permanent housing and treatment is the answer.
“There are people that have been harassing the residents who are camping here driving by them in the middle of the night,” Wilson said. “There are all of these factors that lead to increased drug use, and once again, the solution is housing.”
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS spoke to Minneapolis City Council member Andrea Jenkins for comment. She said in a phone conversation, “It is tragic when any life is lost. My heart goes out to those who loved this person.”
She went on to say, “These encampments, as discussed in the meeting, are a national tragedy that are fueled by fentanyl and drug addiction. It’s a complex problem and the city has been moving on how to clear it in a humane way, if it’s finding treatment and secure housing and people refused the services. We can’t just put people in jail.”
Jenkins explained the city, county and state will continue strategizing to come up with solutions to avoid negative outcomes.