MINNEAPOLIS—The family of a black man who was fatally shot by a Minneapolis police officer has called for supporters protesting the killing to move on to “the next step,” after five people were shot near the site of the dayslong demonstration.
No one was seriously injured in the shooting late Monday.
It wasn’t immediately clear who was behind the attack. A witness to the shooting, Oluchi Omeoga, reported seeing three strangers wearing masks among the protesters. Police said early Tuesday they are searching for three white male suspects.
The shootings took place about a block from the police department’s 4th Precinct, where protesters have been demonstrating since the shooting of 24-year-old Jamar Clark on Nov. 15, calling for the release of video documenting his death.
Police Department Spokesman John Elder said officers responded to the latest shooting around 10:40 p.m. and that dozens of officers assisted victims and secure the scene.
Omeoga, who has been participating in protests since last Monday, said the three masked people “weren’t supposed to be there.” The three strangers left the protest and a handful of protesters followed them to a street corner, where the masked men pulled out weapons and gunshots rang out, Omeoga said.
