Four children were shot while driving around in a stolen car in Minneapolis early Sunday (August 18) morning. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said that the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system identified multiple gunshots around 1 a.m.
When officers responded, they found five juveniles, ages 11 through 14, at the scene. Four of them had gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital. Authorities said that one of the victims was shot in the head and is in critical condition. The other three juveniles were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver, an 11-year-old boy, was not shot and was detained by officers. He was later released into the custody of his parents.
Two of the children involved were arrested less than two weeks ago for being in a stolen car.
“Four kids shot between [the ages] 11 and 14 is outrageous, and everyone should be up in arms over it. The police are doing everything that we can in response to this, but we can’t keep responding after the fact,” O’Hara said.
“We are failing to deter this behavior, and, with that being said, we are failing these kids as well,” he added.
Due to the age of the children, charges are not being considered for their alleged role in the theft of the car.
O’Hara said that the five minors were in the stolen Kia when a dark-colored sedan started following them. The passengers in the sedan then opened fire on the Kia using automatic weapons.
O’Hara noted that over 30 shell casings were recovered at the scene. Investigators believe additional shots were fired and that the shell casings are likely in the suspect’s vehicle.
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