Arrest made in connection to Minneapolis mass shooting that left 4 dead, 1 injured
Minneapolis police say officers have made an arrest in connection to a mass shooting that left four people dead and one other injured in the Midtown Phillips area late Tuesday evening.
Around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, U.S. Marshals executed a search warrant on the 1600 block of South Fourth Street and arrested 34-year-old James Ortley, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said. He was wanted on a warrant for multiple counts of second-degree murder, as well as a federal warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Officials believe the man was responsible for the shooting that broke out around 11:55 p.m. on the 1500 block of East 25th Street. A 20-year-old woman, a 27-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were pronounced dead at the scene, while a 28-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were taken to the hospital. Family tells WCCO the 28-year-old died Thursday evening from his injuries, and police confirmed the death.
O'Hara called Ortley's arrest a "significant step forward in what has been an intense and fast-moving investigation into the most violent incident this city has suffered this year."
Still, police believe there are other individuals who were involved in the shooting, and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
"While the work is far from over, this arrest is a major step forward. And it is a message to those wishing to do harm or violence, and that message is very clear: this will not be tolerated in our city," said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Tuesday evening's mass shooting was the beginning of a spree that in all, resulted in five deaths and four injuries. Police noted that all the victims who died in the Phillips area were Native Americans, and were likely targeted. Investigators are working to determine if the shootings were connected.
Early Wednesday, a man in his 30s was fatally shot just three blocks away from the mass shooting, near the intersection of Cedar and East Franklin avenues.
Then, 90 minutes later, a man was shot off West 33rd Street and Harriet Avenue in the Lyndale neighborhood. Police say his injuries are non-life threatening. About 90 minutes after that, a man was shot inside a residence off North 29th Avenue and Girard Avenue North in the Jordan neighborhood. Police say "an altercation outside escalated to gunfire" in this case. A woman also suffered non-life threatening injuries, but it's unclear how.
Then at about 7:45 p.m., a man in his 50s was shot off 15th Avenue South and East Lake Street in the Powderhorn neighborhood, later dying from his injuries at Hennepin Healthcare.
Prayer and drum ceremony remembers victims
Thursday's drum and prayer ceremony to remember and honor the victims is just a stone's throw from where five people lost their lives to gun violence within just 24 hours.
"It's senseless violence and it's native on native violence, and that's one of our biggest threats to our community," said Mike Forcia, Chairman of the American Indian Movement.
The violence is systemic, with native people having been detached from their language and culture, without land or resources, Forcia said.
"When we get our young men out of prison, because they're felons, can't get a job, can't get an education, can't get a place, it's almost like they're forced to sell drugs," said Forcia.
Joey Goodwin, 17, was one of three people shot and killed late Tuesday night in south Minneapolis. Two others, including 28-year-old Leras Rainey, were badly hurt in Tuesday's shooting. Family tells WCCO he died Thursday evening. His mother said he was in the wrong place and he wasn't the target.
"We are going to do everything we can and we're going to use every single resource available, from US attorney and federal law enforcement, state partners, county, everyone to do everything that we need to do to help restore the peace," O'Hara said.
Forcia said the violence is unlike anything he's seen in years.
"I'm afraid it's not over," Forcia said.
With no telling if, or when, the bloodshed will end.
"I think what's going on is it's gang warefare," Forcia said. "That's what it is, there's a gang war going on."
Twin sisters among shooting victims
Twenty-year-old twin sisters Maleice and Merelle White were also among the victims. Merelle White was pronounced dead at the scene, while Maleice White remains in the hospital.
"Those two were the best duo you can ever think of — such a powerful duo," their cousin, Shianna Smallwood, said.
Smallwood believes her cousins were in the wrong place at the wrong time and that they were friends with the three other males in the vehicle where the shooting happened.
Upon learning about the suspect, Ortley, Smallwood said she was shocked because she knew of him.
"I want to know what made you (Ortley) think to do that and why," Smallwood said.
While questions swirl, Smallwood says her focus remains on the only shooting survivor, her baby cousin, Maleice White.
"She's so strong, the strongest person I know," Smallwood said, holding back tears. "She's going to need a lot of prayers."