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MPD investigating after 3 men killed in separate incidents
MPD Chief Brian O’Hara has requested help from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the MN BCA and will increase patrols this week throughout parts of the city.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the department is activating additional resources after six violent incidents occurred Saturday night into Sunday morning, resulting in three people being killed. In total, Chief O’Hara said there have been 10 violent incidents since Thursday — nine shootings (two fatal) and one fatal stabbing.
“This weekend we’ve seen an unacceptable level of crime and violence,” O’Hara said, during a press conference on Sunday afternoon.
O’Hara said he assembled the command staff and the Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to help.
O’Hara also is receiving investigative and patrol assistance from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). O’Hara said there will be an increase in patrols in current trouble spots across the city.
“The residents will see starting tonight [Sunday], but especially tomorrow and for the rest of the week, there will be visible stepped up enforcement. We’ll have an operation going on all week long with all of our partners,” O’Hara said.
He later went on to say, “I’m incredibly grateful for everyone’s willingness to help Minneapolis on a moment’s notice.”
The first of the three suspected homicides occurred on Saturday night, according to the MPD.
Officers responded to a shooting on the 2600 block of 3rd Avenue S at 7:13 p.m. and found a 20-year-old man who had been shot. The man was taken to Hennepin Healthcare where he later died, according to the MPD. Preliminary information indicates that the injured man was outside when shots were fired. No arrests have been made in this case.
Another man was found with life-threatening gunshot wounds near the 3200 block of Penn Avenue N just after 1 a.m. on Sunday. In that instance, officers found a 45-year-old man who was receiving care from Minneapolis firefighters. He was taken to North Memorial Health where he later died, according to the MPD. No arrests have been made.
In the third incident, a man died in the hospital after being stabbed multiple times at a party in Minneapolis, police said. According to officials, officers responded to a stabbing in a home on the 3400 block of Penn Avenue N. around 3:15 Sunday morning. Police found a 31-year-old man with multiple stab wounds. According to MPD, preliminary information indicates that an altercation inside the house escalated to a stabbing. One arrest has been made.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has yet to release the names of the three men killed.
Other than the three suspected homicides, the MPD is investigating seven other shootings that left seven men injured.
Although O’Hara is concerned about the recent incidents, he also pointed out what MPD saw this weekend with events like the Minneapolis Aquatennial.
“At the same time, also, I think it’s important to highlight that there were thousands and thousands of people who came to the city this weekend and were able to do so safely,” O’Hara said. “But clearly it shows… we have a lot of work to do in a number of areas that are problematic and it’s incredibly important that we continue to push for staffing the police department so that we’re able to prevent some of these incidents better. But, if nothing else, certainly respond to and investigate them thoroughly.”
O’Hara said, at this time, it does not appear that any of these 10 incidents are related. So far, there have been two arrests.
Anyone with information about any of the incidents is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit online.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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Preview: ‘The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands’
MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing?
“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions.
KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have.
Kare11
Pumpkin display hopes to raise money for food shelf
Gary Peterson and his friends are collecting donations to help people in their community.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A St. Louis Park pumpkin display is raising money for their local food shelf.
Gary Peterson started carving and painting three pumpkins over a decade ago. It’s now grown to over 100.
“I’ve heard people say they’ve come from Hutchinson,” he said.
Peterson along with two of his neighbors have spent the last 14 years growing their display, turning it into a neighborhood event.
“It’s been incredible, I just can’t believe how much this has expanded,” he said. “We did it just because we like to and then people were asking to give us money to cover the cost.”
The trio refused to take people’s money, but then one of them had an idea.
“My neighbor, Steve Leensvaart, just mentioned how about we just do it for the STEP program and the STEP program is our local food shelf in St. Louis Park,” he said.
So, they started to collect donations to help families in need. They’ve raised hundreds of dollars and donated hundreds of pounds of food over the last few years, carving for a cause.
“It is more gratifying every year,” Peterson said.
He estimated they have over 100 unique pumpkins in their yard. They’ve created the displays and come up with new family-friendly concepts for people to enjoy. Peterson said about 30 of their neighbors carved their own pumpkins to be put on display, and it’s been a big hit.
“It’s great. In the last couple of years, it’s turned into more of a neighborhood event,” said Sarah Durch.
“We love this Halloween display, we come every year to see it. We love that the whole community gets involved to craft and carve the pumpkins,” said Jami Gordon-Smith.
“The shading and the details are unbelievable,” said Elizabeth Hanson.
Hanson hopes to take her 2-year-old son trick or treating for the first time but is worried the cold temperatures might keep them indoors.
“We’re going trick or treating hopefully,” she said. “He’s going to be a firefighter, but we’re probably going to have sweatshirts maybe like two pairs of sweatpants underneath. We’re going to be bundled up.”
Gordon-Smith said her family will be out Halloween night no matter the weather.
“Halloween only comes once a year, so you really have to take advantage and enjoy the evening no matter what the weather brings,” she said. “Guess it’s not totally unheard of in Minnesota to have a cold Halloween, but we are going to try and modify and do a lot of layers underneath our costumes and then we might add some hats and maybe some warmer socks.”
Durch also isn’t surprised they’re in for another chilly night.
“Well, what would Halloween be without Minnesota cold? I feel like every time you plan a costume you have to plan for how you can make this work if it’s snowing,” she said.
Peterson said they will have a bonfire and some hot chocolate and cider on Halloween to keep trick-or-treaters warm while they look at their pumpkins.
Click here to learn where you can see the pumpkins and how you can donate.
Kare11
Search continues for Bemidji missing person
Jeremy Jourdain was 17 when he was last seen on Halloween 2016.
BEMIDJI, Minn. — The search for Jeremy Jourdain, who was last seen on Halloween in 2016, continues now eight years later.
Jourdain was last seen at a family member’s house in Bemidji, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs. He left the residence near the 500 block of Wood Avenue after midnight and while people followed him, no one was able to find him.
Jourdain was 17 at the time.
Officials said he was wearing a blue and grey sweatshirt, and blue jeans when last seen. He is Native American and is described as 6 foot 5 and 175 pounds.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, you can contact the Bemidji Police Department at (218) 333-9111. Tips can also be sent to 1-833-560-2065, or you can email ojs_mmu@bia.gov.