Three people, including the suspected gunman, are dead after a shooting inside a downtown Minneapolis apartment building left two police officers and several residents wounded on Wednesday afternoon, law enforcement sources told KSTP’s 5 Eyewitness News.
According to a spokesperson for the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), officers were called to the Loring Towers apartment building near East Grant Street shortly before 4.40 pm local time after reports that someone had been shot. When the first officers entered the building minutes later, they found multiple victims on the ground and could hear continued gunfire coming from the upper floors.
Four people were found with gunshot wounds inside the building, MPD said. One person died at the scene and another died later at the hospital, while two others remained in hospital with injuries. A separate source told KSTP that the suspected gunman was confirmed to have died by suicide, bringing the overall death toll to three.
Carlton Johnson II: Who Has Been Identified As The Gunman?
Witnesses identified the suspect as 35-year-old Carlton Johnson II, who occupied a ninth-floor unit at Loring Towers, according to KSTP sources. Court records reviewed by the broadcaster show the building’s management company had already begun eviction proceedings against Johnson, with a hearing scheduled for 11 September, and a city hall source said he had been formally evicted from the flat earlier the same day as the shooting.
Why Was Carlton Johnson II Facing Eviction?
According to a complaint filed by the management company, Johnson’s lease had originally been due for termination in June after he assaulted another resident, openly displayed a firearm and threatened to kill someone. KSTP’s investigative unit, 5 Investigates, uncovered six separate instances of Johnson disturbing fellow residents dating back to January, though records indicate he had been given a second chance on condition that he keep any firearm concealed while on the property. It remains unclear what prompted management to proceed with the eviction this month.
Carlton Johnson II: How Were The Police Officers Hurt?
Two Minneapolis officers who followed the sound of gunfire to an upper floor were shot as thick haze limited visibility inside the building, officials said. A city hall source told KSTP one officer was shot in the stomach and taken into surgery, where he was later listed in stable condition, while a second officer was shot in the leg and is expected to make a full recovery. A third officer was also injured during the response, though it was not immediately clear how; Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson said he expected all three to recover fully.
Carlton Johnson II: What Have Officials Said About The Attack?
Peterson praised the response of the officers who confronted the gunman, saying “their bravery is undeniable, and we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the police response reflected extraordinary courage under pressure, while Governor Tim Walz confirmed state public safety officials were on the ground supporting local law enforcement.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty described the incident as a shocking attack with numerous victims and said her office was working alongside MPD and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to gather information. The FBI said it was aware of the shooting and stood ready to offer resources to local authorities, while the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed its agents had also responded to the scene.
Carlton Johnson II: What Do Witnesses Recall From The Scene?
Bystanders near Hennepin County Medical Center described a chaotic and rapidly unfolding emergency as ambulances, park police and federal agents converged on the area. One witness, Dennis Bradley, said the scene shifted “like a blink of an eye” as victims were rushed away. Another resident, Rayne Raeker, told KSTP a gunman inside the building had shot a woman before an officer was also wounded while trying to help those caught in the attack, describing the experience of hearing repeated gunfire on her way to a nearby shop as frightening and distressing.
Carlton Johnson II: What Happens Next In The Investigation?
The BCA confirmed in a statement that its agents and crime-scene personnel were investigating a use-of-force incident on East Grant Street, adding that further details would be released once a preliminary inquiry was complete. Multiple agencies, including the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, MPD and federal investigators, remained at the scene into the evening as the wider investigation into the shooting and Johnson’s background continued.
