Minneapolis police investigate three separate shootings reported within 20 minutes across multiple city neighborhoods Thursday evening

Three calls for gunfire came in minutes apart

Minneapolis police are investigating three shootings reported Thursday evening, March 5, 2026, within a roughly 20-minute span at locations spread across the city. Police said early information indicates each incident involved a single victim and that the injuries in all three cases were not considered life-threatening.

The first shooting was reported at about 6:29 p.m. in the 400 block of Taylor Street Northeast. A second call came about seven minutes later, around 6:36 p.m., approximately 2.5 miles away in the 2000 block of West River Road North. A third shooting was reported at about 6:46 p.m. in the 800 block of East Franklin Avenue.

Investigators: no clear connection at this stage

Police said the three shootings did not appear to be related based on preliminary information. That early assessment can change as detectives collect evidence, review any available surveillance footage, and interview victims and witnesses.

The geographic spread of the calls—Northeast Minneapolis, the West River Road corridor, and East Franklin Avenue—suggested separate scenes requiring simultaneous response. Even when injuries are not life-threatening, shootings typically trigger a multi-step investigative process that includes securing the scene, locating physical evidence such as cartridge casings and projectiles, documenting property damage, and coordinating follow-up with victims after medical care.

What is known so far

• Time window: approximately 6:29 p.m. to 6:46 p.m. (about 17 minutes between first and third calls).

• Locations: 400 block Taylor Street NE; 2000 block West River Road N; 800 block East Franklin Ave.

• Victims: one victim in each incident, according to initial police information.

• Medical status: injuries not believed to be life-threatening in all three cases.

• Investigative status: police said the shootings did not appear connected at the time of the initial update.

What remains unclear

Police had not publicly released victim identities, suspect descriptions, or details about the circumstances leading up to each shooting. It was also not clear whether any of the victims were shot at the listed locations or later arrived at hospitals by private vehicle, a pattern sometimes seen in urban gunfire cases.

Police described the incidents as three separate shootings under investigation, with no immediate indication they were connected.

How the investigation typically proceeds

In the early phase of a shooting investigation, detectives commonly work to establish timelines, identify vehicles involved, and determine whether shell casings from different scenes match the same firearm. Authorities may also canvass nearby businesses and residences for video and seek witnesses who can describe what they saw or heard.

Police are expected to provide additional updates as evidence is processed and investigators confirm details from the three scenes.