Another violent day in Minneapolis.
The first murder took place in south Minneapolis, the second in the northern part of the city.
First the morning murder which is a story where a victim becomes the suspect and a misdemeanor leads to murder.
That's what police are saying happened just after ten this morning in South Minneapolis.
At around 10 a.m. two people were caught red handed spray painting graffiti on the front of a duplex in the 2000 block of east 34th street in south Minneapolis.
The painters were caught by a teen who was in the house and police say he apparently took it upon himself to stop the vandals.
"These two were spray painting the home on 34th street when a person from within the home came out with a gun and fired at least one shot," said Minneapolis Police Officer Ron Reier.
Reier said the shooter was a victim of vandals until he fired his gun.
Neighbors say they were shocked to come home to a crime scene four blocks wide.
"Surprised to see someone shoot someone for doing that," said a neighbor who didn't want to be identified.
The 19-year-old male who was shot was taken to HCMC by the other person who was allegedly spray painting the house. The man died a short time later.
When police came to the house looking for the shooter no one was there.
Just before 6 p.m., police arrested the shooter and identified him as a 17-year-old male.
He is being held at the Hennepin County Jail.
"I do not see or cannot envision any type of situation where spray painting, a misdemeanor crime, would justify the person coming out and using deadly force," Officer Reier said.
Police aren't saying why this house was the target of the graffiti or if the graffiti itself is gang related, but, neighborhood residents are concerned. Especially that area's City Councilman, Gary Schiff. "We are seeing gang activity and seeing gang graffiti," Schiff said.
He planned to meet with members of the community Wednesday night to answer any questions they had about the shooting.
Schiff wanted to be able to tell the residents about the need for a lockdown at South High School Wednesday afternoon. The lockdown happened when police surrounded the home and the area while looking for the shooter. They called for the lockdown because they could not ensure public safety in the area until they gave the all clear. Students at South HS were dismissed at the normal hour Wednesday and neighbors were cleared of the crime tape by late afternoon.
The second killing took place around 7 p.m. Minneapolis Police were dispatched to the 600 block of Thomas Avenue North after 911 calls about multiple gun shots being heard. When officers arrived they found the body of an adult male in the rear of home on the block. He had been shot several times. The unidentified victim was transported to North Memorial Medical Center where he died.
Preliminary information given to police indicates that possibly two shooters fled in a newer model, light colored, vehicle. This vehicle was fleeing northbound in the alley between Thomas and Sheridan Avenues North.
Anyone with any information regarding this murder is asked to call the Minneapolis Police Department's TIPS Line at 612-693-8477.
By Jana Shortal, KARE 11 News
