MINNEAPOLIS (BN24) — An 11-year-old boy was shot and killed in broad daylight near a city park Monday afternoon, prompting a citywide manhunt and urgent pleas from police for public assistance in finding the person or persons responsible.
The shooting occurred around 2 p.m. near Folwell Park in north Minneapolis, according to the Minneapolis Police Department. Witnesses reported seeing one vehicle drive through the park and two others moving through an adjacent parking lot just as gunfire erupted, authorities said.
The boy, whose name has not been released, was struck and fatally wounded. He died at the scene despite efforts by first responders.
“I cannot emphasize enough how terrible it is to have an 11-year-old boy shot and killed in the middle of the day,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said in a statement Monday evening. “This is not just a tragedy for one family — it’s a tragedy for the entire city.”
Investigators say the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation. They have not yet identified any suspects or established a motive. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses.
“We are following every lead,” Chief O’Hara said, “but we need the public’s help to solve this. We need anyone with information — no matter how small — to come forward so we can bring some sense of justice to this child’s family.”
The fatal shooting marks yet another troubling act of violence involving a child in Minneapolis, where concerns over public safety remain a top issue for both residents and officials.
Community members gathered near the scene Monday night to hold a candlelight vigil in the child’s memory. Local leaders and clergy urged anyone with information to break the silence and assist the investigation.
