Two teenagers were shot in a parking lot outside the Eden Prairie High School homecoming game in Minnesota, and law enforcement sources told a local TV station the shooting is tied to a Somali gang dispute. Police have not released a motive or any suspect information.
Story Snapshot
- Two people were shot outside Aerie Stadium during the Eden Prairie vs. Minnetonka homecoming game on Friday night, October 2; police say the injuries are not life-threatening.
- Three independent law enforcement sources told a local TV station the shooting is related to Somali gang activity. In a Saturday update, police said they believe it was gang-related.
- Gov. Tim Walz said, “No homecoming, in any community, should be disrupted by gun violence.” His statement did not mention gangs.
- No arrests have been announced as of Sunday, October 4.
What Police Say Happened Outside Aerie Stadium
Eden Prairie police said officers were already at the game and responded around 8:40 p.m. to a disturbance that turned into a shooting. Police said a large fight broke out on the west side of the stadium and officers broke it up. Gunfire followed in a nearby parking lot. The wounded were an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old. The 18-year-old left the hospital Saturday. The 17-year-old was still hospitalized with an injury that is not life-threatening. Police said neither was a student at Eden Prairie or Minnetonka schools.
Police Chief Matt Sackett said the shooting appeared to be targeted. That means police think the gunfire was aimed at specific people, not at the crowd.
The Gang Link: What Is Known
The gang link comes from law enforcement sources who spoke to a local TV station, not from a formal police finding. Those sources said the shooting is related to Somali gang activity. Police later said in a Saturday update that, based on the investigation so far, they believe the shooting was gang-related. Police said they do not have enough specific suspect information to release. Police have not released a motive.
Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, put out a statement Friday night: “No homecoming, in any community, should be disrupted by gun violence.” He added that Minnesotans were keeping students and families in their thoughts. The statement spoke only of gun violence and did not mention gangs. Sen. Amy Klobuchar also called the violence “completely unacceptable.”
Evacuation And School Response
Stadium staff and police evacuated the stadium once the gunfire stopped. Families were sent to a reunification point at Round Lake Park to find their students. Students inside school buildings were held for about an hour and then released. School Superintendent Josh Swanson said the community took care of one another and visitors, and that no one was hurt in the evacuation.
The high school canceled Saturday’s homecoming dance. Principal Jaysen Anderson said holding a dance less than 24 hours after a trauma in the community “feels out of place.”
Where The Investigation Stands
As of Sunday, October 4, no arrests have been announced. Police are working with regional law enforcement partners. Anyone with information, or with video from the stadium or parking lot, can email [email protected] or call the anonymous tip line at 952-949-8477.
Sources:
alphanews.org, cbsnews.com, fox9.com, rollingout.com, valleynewslive.com
