Woman found shot after gunfire in Mpls. not intended target, police say
Police found a woman sitting in a van in north Minneapolis Thursday night who had been shot in the arm.
Police responded to the shooting just after 6 p.m. in the 2100 block of Penn Avenue North. She was taken to North Memorial Medical Center where she later died.
Police took several people into custody from a nearby home for questioning.
Police spokesperson John Elder said investigators are looking into what led to the shooting, but so far have determined the woman was not an intended target.
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"The preliminary investigation yields that this individual had nothing to do with the shooting or what was transpiring outside of her vehicle," he said. "This appears to be an innocent victim."
Police did not identify the victim. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner is expected to release her name and cause of death.
Police did not say whether the woman was alone in the car or if any other passengers were there, citing the active investigation.
If this death is ruled a homicide, it will be the city's 10th so far this year. Last year, Minneapolis had a total of 50 homicides.
Elder said police have stepped up patrol on the city's north side.
"We're concerned with any gunfire; we're concerned with every shooting that happens," he added. "We are concerned with the rise in gunfire and that's why we have taken the number of steps that we've taken."