Jessica Tezoquipa, contributor
As of Monday, Sept. 15, a total of twelve people have been injured, with four in critical condition, at two different mass shootings in Minneapolis. According to MPR News, five people were injured, with one in critical condition, in a mass shooting Monday morning at the intersection of Lake Street and Stevens Avenue. On Monday evening, seven people were injured by gunfire, with three suffering life-threatening wounds at Lake Street and 28th. Police do not believe these two shootings to be related, but have not ruled out the possibility yet. No suspects have been arrested in either of these cases as of Wednesday, Sept. 24.
“I mean, it’s horrible, I guess it feels like this has been happening close to our community… it feels a part of a larger story, so in some way it feels like I’m constantly wrestling with that.” Stated English Professor Richard Hackler in an interview with the Echo. “I understand that fear; it makes sense. I think the best thing to do to feel safe in [your] community is to know as many people [as you can] and [to] be active. Just try to be a good force in your community. That’s not a very easy thing to do,” he shares to those who are new to the Cedar-Riverside community.
The shooting on Monday morning has led Mayor Jacob Frey and the Department of Transportation to fence off the walkway near the transit stop, calling it “a trouble spot,” as well as working with the state of Minnesota to secure more resources for law enforcement to target those related to violent crimes. “We are taking immediate steps to secure the area and crack down on the dealers and violent offenders who are exploiting it,” Frey stated when interviewed by MPR News. “At the same time, we will continue to provide pathways for people battling addiction to get the help they need.” Frey hopes that fencing off the area will help minimize shootings, but casts doubt on long-term effectiveness, stating, “they [have] to start getting people into treatment centers, start getting them help, get them clean. Just shutting them down from over there, they’ll just move to another location because we’ve seen that many times before.”…