Over the span of one weekend, two separate shootings at Minneapolis homeless encampments resulted in the deaths of three individuals and the injury of three others. The first shooting occurred on Saturday, where one man was killed and two others were wounded. The following day, another triple shooting took place at a different encampment, resulting in two more deaths and a critically wounded woman. Police are investigating the possibility that the two shootings may be connected.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey attributed the increase in violence near homeless encampments to the prevalence of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. He stated that while overall violent crime rates are decreasing in the city, violence in and around homeless encampments has escalated due to the influence of the drug. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that fentanyl was responsible for a majority of drug overdose deaths in 2023.
The victims of the shootings were identified as Deven Leonard Caston, Louis Lemons Jr., and Christopher Washington, who all died from multiple gunshot wounds. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemned the violence, stating that encampments are not safe environments. He emphasized the importance of accepting available resources to address issues related to narcotics and mental health in order to prevent further violence. As of Monday afternoon, no arrests have been made in connection to the shootings.
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