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Minneapolis leaders and other local law enforcement officials announced the launch of a new $2 million nonfatal shooting task force on Monday.

City officials say budget constraints and staffing shortages have prevented police from dedicating as many staff and resources to investigating nonfatal shootings as they do for homicides.

But under the new task force, known as the Firearm Assault Shoot Team or FAST, nonfatal shootings will have a dedicated investigator who will respond immediately to the scene and be treated with the same type of urgency as a homicide case.

“We are treating nonfatal shootings not as a secondary crime or offense,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “What we’ll be able to do is clear more of these cases, prevent more retaliations and ultimately prevent people from dying in our city.”

Last year in Minneapolis, homicides cleared at nearly double the rate of nonfatal shootings. Officials said that holding a shooter accountable for a nonfatal shooting will reduce violence overall. 

"The reason why homicides clear at a much higher percentage around the country is not a difference in the circumstances, it’s a difference in the amount of resources that can be dedicated to these cases, and how intensely and quickly you can provide that,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.

The new initiative is supported by the Minnesota BCA, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and other local police departments. 

The task force is modeled after a similar one in St. Paul and Ramsey County. Following the adoption of the new task force there, that city nearly doubled its clearance rate of nonfatal shootings in 2025.

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Under the new task force, nonfatal shootings will have a dedicated investigator who will respond immediately to the scene and be treated with the same type of urgency as a homicide case.

Minneapolis launches new nonfatal shooting task force

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