Minneapolis Shooting on July 4th as Several Gunned Down: Reports

Eight people were shot overnight as revelers gathered to watch the last of the fireworks on the Fourth of July holiday in a Minneapolis park.

Unofficial groups run by residents that monitor crime and police activity in the local area broke the news after shooting broke out in Boom Island Park in Minnesota before midnight.

Early reports suggested that a total of five people had been shot, with one of those injured being a woman who was hit in her neck. But Minneapolis Park Police has confirmed to Newsweek that eight people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

Dawn Sommers, the director of communications and marketing at Minneapolis Park Police, said: "Last night at 11:30 pm Monday, July 4, Minneapolis Park Police and Minneapolis Police Department officers responded to a shooting at Boom Island Park.

"After shots were fired, the large group that had gathered in the park dispersed, many leaving prior to police arriving. A majority of the shooting victims later arrived at local hospitals on their own, where police were notified by the hospitals. As of early this morning, eight victims had been hospitalized, several in critical condition. At this time, the age, gender and current conditions of the victims is not available... No arrests have been made at this time."

She urged witnesses or anyone with information about the shooting to contact police.

The crime monitoring group MN Crime, which describes itself as "a multimedia public safety information network" that uses scanners to monitor the audio dispatch of crews from the emergency services, had tweeted: "MINNEAPOLIS: Report of shooting in Boom Island Park - Officers are now on scene with a female victim who has a gunshot wound to the right arm.

"A male victim arrived at HCMC [Hennepin County Medical Center], who was reportedly struck at Boom Island while watching fireworks. Officers found casings in the parking lot. Suspect vehicle is a silver truck, unknown plate or direction.

This chart, provided by Statista, shows the number of lone shooter mass shootings and number of deceased since 2013 in the U.S.

"Police have located a third victim related to the gunfire at Boom Island. A fourth victim who just arrived at Abbott Northwestern hospital is also believed to be related.

"Two additional gunshot victims who arrived at North Memorial who may be related to Boom Island. Officers were dispatched to interview them."

Similar reports were also posted online by the "2nd Pct Minneapolis Crime Watch & Information" group of volunteers monitoring public safety in the city.

The group, which describes itself as a medic company, wrote on Facebook: "Report of a shooting at Boom Island Park. Developing. 23:31. Police arrived, a black female is shot in the arm. Another male victim, unknown injury. Possibly a third victim. Police found casings. Police located the third victim near Plymouth Ave near Hall Island Park.

"A sliver or gray SUV is the suspect vehicle and it was doing donuts in the parking lot prior to the shots. Police found .45, 9mm and live rounds all over the place. Gunshot victims showed up at Abbott and HCMC. Sounding like 5 total victims so far. The victim at Abbott is a Somali female shot in the neck. She's being transported to HCMC."

This chart, provided by Statista, shows a comparison of firearm deaths in the world's largest economies.

Boom Island Park is a riverside park along the Mississippi River that boasts pretty views of the city's skyline, and contains a playground, a boat dock, and walking and biking paths.

There was no official fireworks display in the park last night, but locals had gathered to watch fireworks being let off elsewhere due to the expansive views.

Reports of the gun violence overnight come after a bloody Independence Day weekend, following the mass shooting during a parade in Highland Park, Illinois, that left six dead and dozens more injured. Police have arrested 22-year-old Robert Crimo in connection with their ongoing investigation.

Update 7/5/22 13:14 a.m. EDT: This article was updated to include information from Minneapolis Park Police.