Minnesota authorities have identified the individuals who died and the officers who sustained injuries in Wednesday's apartment shooting in Minneapolis. The incident resulted in the deaths of two civilians and left two police officers wounded by gunfire.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) named the two civilian victims as Dale Henry Spry, 63, and Muse A. Afrah, 61. Officials had previously stated that one individual died at the scene, while the other succumbed to injuries at a hospital.
Both deceased victims are believed to have resided in the apartment complex where the alleged shooter, Carlton Neal Johnson II, 35, initiated the gunfire. Johnson was fatally struck during an exchange of shots with law enforcement. A preliminary autopsy indicated Johnson died from multiple gunshot wounds, with his death classified as a homicide, according to authorities.
Officers Injured in Confrontation
The two Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers who sustained injuries in the shooting were identified by the BCA as Joseph Michnowski, a five-year veteran of the force, and Yahye Ahmed, who has served for nearly two years.
Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson reported during a briefing that Officer Ahmed was discharged from the hospital on Thursday. Officer Michnowski, however, remained hospitalized as of Thursday afternoon.
Garrett Parten, a public information officer for the MPD, stated that one of the injured officers suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, described as non-life-threatening. The other officer required surgery.
A third officer involved in the event, Ernest Boateng, was also assessed for what appeared to be a non-life-threatening injury, Parten added. Chief Peterson clarified that Officer Boateng's injuries were not caused by gunfire; he sustained cuts from glass while breaking a window of a police vehicle that had its sirens activated and was locked. Officer Boateng was evaluated and released on Wednesday.
Details of the Incident and Ongoing Investigation
The BCA confirmed that at least one officer discharged their weapon during the incident. This officer was identified as Liban Mohamed Ibrahim, an MPD veteran of two years. The BCA stated, "Investigators are continuing to determine whether any other officers fired their weapons."
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, explained that Wednesday's shooting began during a child custody exchange involving Johnson and a woman with whom he had a previous relationship.
Reports indicate Johnson first shot the woman outside the building before entering the apartment complex. Inside, he reportedly shot a facility worker. He then proceeded to the ninth floor, where he shot the two residents who later died.
Court records reveal that Johnson was also facing eviction from the apartment building. Officials have not yet determined if the victims were specifically targeted by Johnson.
