Rioting and looting once again broke out in Democrat-controlled Minneapolis on Wednesday night after the police were falsely accused of shooting a black man. Law enforcement officials quickly released a video showing that the man, who they said was a murder suspect, shot and killed himself.
“Groups of people are looting multiple stores in downtown Minneapolis,” FOX9 News reported. “Social media posts show images of people damaging items in a Target as well as broken windows of surrounding stores. Haskell’s liquor store and the Medical Arts building also appear to have been looted.”
Law enforcement officials, who were after the suspect for his alleged connection to a deadly shooting earlier in the day, released a video of the suspect that confirmed that the suspect shot himself as police arrived on the scene.
“We’ve got cops from all over the Twin Cities coming out here to maintain order because the citizens of Minneapolis and Hennepin County deserve to feel safe,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson. “The people causing problems are going to go to jail tonight.”
Looting is now taking place at the Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis after a man committed suicide while being pursued by police. Any excuse to riot. pic.twitter.com/gWrLpc8eoJ
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 27, 2020
Ppl breaking windows while police look on from inside pic.twitter.com/SzCoSDFnte
— Andy Mannix (@AndrewMannix) August 27, 2020
Looting and violence has erupted in Minneapolis after a man shot himself as police approached him. How is this the fault of the police? pic.twitter.com/hkvYlMIIqv
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 27, 2020
Looting in downtown Minneapolis. Haskell’s liquor store and Medical Arts building included. This is all linked to alleged suicide of suspect in earlier homicide. Crowds down here were convinced he was shot by police. pic.twitter.com/zaIKUw8IlC
— Courtney Godfrey (@courtneygodfrey) August 27, 2020
Sheriff deputies in riot gear just showed up. People continue to try and cross the line they’re holding. I heard them say they are about to start making arrests. pic.twitter.com/4AIApwPwSx
— Courtney Godfrey (@courtneygodfrey) August 27, 2020
Saks pic.twitter.com/0hJAHw5dup
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) August 27, 2020
Bruegger’s looted pic.twitter.com/e6zV4rTqQe
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) August 27, 2020
The Caribou across from WCCO has been looted. We were about to get video of looting happening Brit's Pub (next door), then the looters started throwing bottles of liquor at us and threatening us, so we left.@WCCO pic.twitter.com/q73quQZASF
— Jeff Wagner (@Jeff_Wagner4) August 27, 2020
Community activist KG Wilson trying to calm the crowd on Nicollet Mall. Many here believe police shot/killed a man when the man actually shot himself. @WCCO pic.twitter.com/89RgGPYR45
— Jeff Wagner (@Jeff_Wagner4) August 27, 2020
Police now responding to the Target on Nicollet after a large crowd ran inside. People were saying the group was about to loot Target. @WCCO pic.twitter.com/ORryoCr3VZ
— Jeff Wagner (@Jeff_Wagner4) August 27, 2020
Minnesota Democrat Governor Tim Walz released a statement following the incident, saying that it was time for the city to heal and that lawlessness would not be tolerated.
“Minneapolis, it’s time to heal,” Walz said. “We must rebuild and recover. Dangerous, unlawful behavior will not be tolerated. The State Patrol is headed to Minneapolis to help restore order. I remain in close contact with the city, and every state resource stands ready to help bring peace.”
Minneapolis Democrat Mayor Jacob Frey responded to Walz’s statement by saying, “Thank you, Governor Walz, for your partnership and support. The unrest must stop and healing must start. Destruction will not be tolerated. Healing our city will require peace and all of us working together.”
“We need everyone to keep the peace and immediately go home,” Frey added.
We need everyone to keep the peace and immediately go home.
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) August 27, 2020
The rioting and looting in Minneapolis come just a few months after violent riots broke out in the city in response to the death of George Floyd. Those riots spiraled out of control, causing hundreds of millions of dollars of damage, and were followed by subsequent riots in other Democrat-controlled cities across the U.S.
The most recent example of violent riots to hit the U.S. happened in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this week after a black man was shot by police officers who were reportedly responding to a domestic incident.
However, state authorities released a report on Wednesday afternoon stating that their investigation found that the suspect, who was shot after resisting law enforcement and attempting to enter his car, had a weapon on the floorboard of his vehicle.
“During the investigation following the initial incident, Mr. Blake admitted that he had a knife in his possession,” the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) said in a statement. “DCI agents recovered a knife from the driver’s side floorboard of Mr. Blake’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle located no additional weapons.”
This report has been updated to include additional information.