Man, 25, shot dead near Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis

A 25-year-old man was shot and killed in Minneapolis near the Cedar Cultural Center, and witnesses reported seeing two people fleeing immediately afterward, authorities said Monday.

The shooting occurred about 10:45 p.m. Sunday in the 400 block of Cedar Avenue South, police said.

No arrests have been made. “Witnesses observed two suspects fleeing the scene,” a police report read.

Numerous 911 calls brought officers to the scene, where the victim was found on the ground with a gunshot wound, according to police.

The man was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died a short time later. His identity has not yet been made public.

Police said in a statement that the violence “does not appear to be a random incident.”

Abdirizak Bihi said he was about two blocks from the scene in front of the Cedar Cultural Center when he heard two shots fired. He ran toward the direction of the sounds.

“When I got there, there were two guys trying to save his life, pumping his chest and talking to him,” Bihi recalled Monday of the futile attempts to save the man’s life.

“While they tried to save him, I heard two more shots,” said Bihi, director of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center located in the Brian Coyle Community Center in the southeast Minneapolis neighborhood.

“The courage and the bravery those men showed while trying to help him was really something. But he couldn’t be saved.”

Bihi asserted that the neighborhood, primarily composed of Somali-Americans and university students, is considered safe.

“We’re very concerned that people do not get the impression that something like this frequently happens,” he said. “We’re looking at this as a random incident and the community does not believe this is gang-related at all.”

Mary Ann Gonzalez, of Minneapolis, was standing near the victim when he was shot. “I heard two shots and then I saw him on the ground. I sat with him until the police arrived,” she said.

Gonzalez said, “I recall that as the victim hit the ground, seeing two people running across the street, diagonally across Cedar and heading toward the Associated Bank. I only saw their backs. This is such a crime, such a tragedy. I can’t convey how sorry I am.”

Anyone with information about the killing is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or send an anonymous tip to 274637 and begin the message with: TIP 674 or call the Minneapolis police tip line at 612-692-8477.

Staff writer Paul McEnroe contributed to this report.

Source: Star Tribune

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