Holly MatkinMinneapolis, MN – An angry mob of protesters converged at the scene of a traffic stop on Wednesday night, after a convicted felon who opened fire on Minneapolis police was fatally shot.
The incident occurred outside the Holiday gas station at Cedar Avenue and East 36th Street at approximately 6:15 p.m., after officers attempted to pull a vehicle over, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said during a press conference later that night, according to the Star Tribune.
Witnesses said the suspect started shooting at police, who then “exchanged gunfire” with him, according to Chief Arradondo.
The male driver was killed in the gunfight, the chief confirmed.
A female passenger in the car was not injured, the Star Tribune reported.
None of the officers involved in the incident were injured, according to KMSP.
It is unclear whether or not any verbal exchange occurred between the gunman and police before the suspect started shooting.
Chief Arradondo said the officers’ bodycams were activated during the incident, and vowed to release the video footage on Thursday.
A Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) spokesperson told KMSP that the officers involved in the incident are members of a community response team.
They have been isolated pending the completion of interviews regarding their roles in the encounter, KMSP reported.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is handling the ongoing investigation into the case.
While Chief Arradondo urged community members to remain calm, about 100 angry protesters congregated near the scene of the officer-involved shooting and began shouting expletives at police and throwing snowballs at them, according to the Star Tribune.
The chanting now has some beat to it. This crowd has definitely growing mostly with curious neighbors pic.twitter.com/ckB1pKWdfP
— Alex Chhith (@AlexChhith) December 31, 2020
The chief begged for people to refrain from destroying the scene where the shootout occurred, KMSP reported.
“We need to preserve that crime scene so the facts can come out,” he told reporters.
“As chief, I recognize the trauma that our city has been under, and we want to do everything we can to maintain the peace,” Chief Arradondo continued, according to the Star Tribune. “Our city has gone through too much. We need to keep our officers safe, we need to keep our community safe, and I tell you, we need to preserve that crime scene.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also released a statement calling for the crowds to remain calm.
“Events of this past year have marked some of the darkest days in our city,” Frey said, according to the Star Tribune. “We know a life has been cut short and that trust between communities of color and law enforcement is fragile. Rebuilding that trust will depend on complete transparency…We must all be committed to getting the facts, pursuing justice, and keeping the peace.”
