Over the weekend, two separate shootings occurred at homeless encampments in Minneapolis, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to three others. Police believe the two incidents may be connected. The first shooting took place on Saturday morning, where one man was killed and two others were wounded. The second shooting occurred on Sunday afternoon, leading to the deaths of two men and critical injuries to a woman. The police have not made any arrests in connection to the shootings and are investigating the possibility of suspects who fled on foot.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey attributed the increase in violence at homeless encampments to the presence of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. He stated that the rise in crime in these areas is not due to a lack of shelter or housing, but rather the influence of drugs like fentanyl. Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, were responsible for nearly 70% of drug overdose deaths in 2023.
The victims of the shootings were identified as Deven Leonard Caston, Louis Lemons Jr., and Christopher Washington. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemned the shootings as “outrageous” and emphasized the need for residents of the encampments to accept available resources to address substance abuse and mental health issues. O’Hara stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of all individuals living in homeless encampments.
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