1 dead, 1 in hospital in separate south Minneapolis shootings

Minneapolis police are investigating whether two separate shootings that happened within blocks of each other Monday evening are related.

The first shooting happened around 5:14 p.m. near 24th Street East and Elliot Avenue South in the Phillips community. Minneapolis police spokesman Officer Garrett Parten said officers were called to a report of shots fired in an apartment building.

A man was found shot in the head, and although he was given first aid, he was pronounced dead at the scene, Parten said. His death is being investigated as the 15th homicide in Minneapolis this year.

About 10 minutes later, officers were called to another report of shots being fired from one vehicle at another near Franklin Avenue East and Fourth Avenue South, less than half a mile away.

One of the cars kept driving east on Franklin, swerved off the road and ended up crashing into an apartment building on the other side of Interstate 35W. A man who had been shot in the head was taken from the car and rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, Parten said.

Because of the nature of the drive-by victim’s injuries, homicide detectives also responded to the second shooting, Parten explained.

No arrests have been made.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call the Minneapolis Police Department or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Minnesota.