A bizarre suicide incidence that triggered protests has ended up with Minneapolis city being hit with a curfew with the mayor calling in the National Guard following looting in downtown stores. The unrest in the town started when rumors emerged that the man wanted for a fatal shooting was killed by police, which was not the case.
Minneapolis Unrest
It took the police 90 minutes to quash the rumors by releasing videos that indicated the man in question clearly shot himself. The released video showed the man glancing over his shoulder before pulling the trigger, then collapsing to the ground as half a dozen witnesses run away. An officer is seen running to the scene kicking the suspect’s gun away and starting to perform chest compressions in a bid to save the man’s life.
Minneapolis Police Chief, Medaria Arradondo, has since moved to dispel the rumors that the police shot the unidentified black man. The man in question is reportedly wanted for a homicide that happened in the city at a parking garage. The man was on foot at 8th street at 6 p.m. When police pulled up, the suspect ducked into the doorway and shot him.
Minneapolis Looting
Following the incident, large crowds began to gather near the shooting scene, with some using the opportunity to break into nearby businesses. Target store was the harshest hit as people rushed in and started ransacking the premises.
Crowds went on to shatter glasses along the Nicolle Mall targeting the IDS Center Foot Locker, Haskell’s Wine, and Spirits, among other establishments. The looting had spread to a couple of blocks by 9 p.m.
Police had to make arrests to clear downtown, as things got out of hand. Concerned that the violent protests could persist, the city of Minneapolis has imposed a curfew and asked the National Guard to patrol the streets. The curfew starts at 10 p.m. And ends at 6 a.m.
The violent protests and looting comes three months after George Floyd was killed after an encounter with Minneapolis police.
