Two weekend shootings at Minneapolis homeless encampments left three people dead and three others wounded. The first shooting occurred early Saturday, resulting in one man dead and two wounded. The second shooting happened Sunday afternoon, where two men were killed and a woman critically wounded. Police are investigating whether the two shootings are connected.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey attributed the increase in violence in and near homeless encampments to the prevalence of fentanyl. He called the shootings tragic and sad, noting that the drug epidemic is a major factor in the violence.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, was responsible for nearly 70% of drug overdose deaths in 2023. The victims of the shootings have been identified as Deven Leonard Caston, Louis Lemons Jr., and Christopher Washington. All died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemned the shootings as “outrageous” and emphasized the need for residents of encampments to accept available resources to address drug and mental health issues. O’Hara stressed the importance of ending the cycle of violence that plagues homeless encampments and called for a collective effort to improve safety in these vulnerable communities.
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