Misinformation Leads To Violence, Vandalism In Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime state of emergency in Minneapolis late Wednesday and deployed the state patrol and National Guard in response to "unlawful and dangerous looting and violence" downtown.

The civil unrest was sparked by a fatal shooting in which police said a man turned a gun on himself. There were unsubstantiated claims made on social media that police fatally shot the man.

In a rare move, the city quickly released video of the graphic incident on social media, citing the need to quell rumors and end the civil unrest. The video was taken down Thursday morning.

Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey both condemned the vandals in late-night news conferences and told people downtown that they must return home.

Just after 9:30 p.m., Frey told media that he had already requested the help of the National Guard and instituted a curfew that expired at 6 a.m. Thursday.

The Minnesota State Patrol mobilized about 150 troopers to help police disperse crowds and make arrests.

“Minneapolis, it’s time to heal," Walz stated. "We must rebuild and recover. Dangerous, unlawful behavior will not be tolerated. The Minnesota National Guard and State Patrol are headed to Minneapolis to help restore order. I remain in close contact with the city, and every state resource stands ready to help bring peace."

Video shows one officer injured after something was thrown at him, knocking him to the ground.

Businesses across downtown, including the Nicollet Mall Target, were vandalized.

Shooting suspect dies by suicide

On Wednesday just after 2 p.m., Minneapolis police responded to a report of a shooting in parking lot "Ramp A" downtown. At the scene, they found a man's body.

Investigators say three people, two men and a woman, were fighting. A man pulled out a gun and shot the other man, police said.

The shooter and the man and woman both fled the area on foot. The woman was shortly arrested, police said.

At 6 p.m., the shooting suspect was found on Nicollet Mall between 8th and 9th streets. As officers approached him, he shot and killed himself, police said.

Police began life-saving measures, and paramedics were dispatched, but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release.

Police said they released video from street cameras of the suicide in attempt to quell rumors and thwart civil unrest.