Eden Prairie High School students return to class with homecoming shooting still top of mind

High school students in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, returned to class Monday after two people were shot during Friday night's homecoming football game. 

Leaders in Eden Prairie Schools say they've spent the weekend getting ready for the return. Superintendent Dr. Josh Swanson announced Sunday the district continues to work with law enforcement and their emergency management team to make sure students and staff feel safe and supported. 

The homecoming game Friday between the Eagles and the Minnetonka Skippers, which was suspended with 12 minutes left when shots were fired outside Aerie Stadium, resumed Monday afternoon, with Eden Prairie winning 28-21.

Police were stationed around the stadium as families and students returned. Before the players took to the field, the superintendents of both schools spoke to the crowd about the way their communities have come together and thanked law enforcement for their response.

"It's nice to see the increased police presence," said Leah, a parent to a Minnetonka High School student. "I think that will give everybody a little bit of ease, but it's unfortunate that the kids have to have this as their reality."

"I think they are all just really resilient. It was great to see them back out here today and just celebrating and not letting the bad guys win," said Patrick Aaberg, who has a senior at Eden Prairie High School.

Eden Prairie High School's homecoming dance was canceled. It's unclear when that will be rescheduled.

The investigation into Friday night's shooting is still active. Police say two Somali teenagers, who aren't students at either school, were shot during a fight that led to gunfire. Authorities believe the shooting was gang-related.  

Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case, in a written statement, called for the creation of a "dedicated regional task force to address gang activity among East African youth."

"Gang violence must be confronted, but the actions of those involved should not define the broader Somali community," Case said. "I stand with the Somali Americans who call Eden Prairie home — our neighbors, business owners, parents, students, coworkers and friends — and I know many are deeply concerned about this violence and determined to be part of the solution."

"It's crazy, it's crazy. It puts the onus on the schools to try and avoid this kind of thing happening. How do you do that? I don't know," a community member told WCCO.

"This shouldn't be happening, and it's not guns. There's thousands of people in the woods hunting with guns and this doesn't happen," said another community member. "We're at an event where guns aren't allowed and it happens, and so it's not guns, it's something going on with our community, with our kids that this is happening."

Eden Prairie Schools Superintendent Josh Swanson is also pushing back against hateful messages spreading online, especially ones placing blame on the Twin Cities Somali community.

"The heinous and sickening actions of a few do not define an entire community," Swanson said. "I have seen hateful messages spread online about entire communities based only on the ethnicities of those who perpetrated this act, and that is wrong. Our Somali students, neighbors and community members are just as outraged by what happened as everyone else, and each person deserves to feel safe and welcome in our schools and community."

Swanson is encouraging students who are struggling with what happened to reach out to a trusted adult or counselor.