A gang-related shooting occurred outside Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota on Friday, leaving two Somali teenagers injured. The incident took place at about 8:40 p.m. in a parking lot on the north side of the school, where the football team was playing Minnetonka High School. The Eden Prairie Police Department reported that the wounded individuals were two Somali males from St. Paul, aged 17 and 18.
The police identified the victims as 17 and 18-year-old Somali males from St. Paul, who were not students at Eden Prairie or Minnetonka high schools. Both were taken to Hennepin Healthcare with non-life-threatening injuries. The 18-year-old was released on Saturday, while the 17-year-old remained hospitalized. Authorities reported that a large altercation broke out on the west side of Aerie Stadium shortly before the shooting.
Investigators stated that the shooting was gang-related, and officers were pursuing multiple leads but did not have enough information about a suspect to release publicly. The altercation led to several people being removed from the stadium grounds, and gunfire was reported in the school parking lot shortly after. The incident prompted officials to evacuate Aerie Stadium during the second half of the homecoming game.
The evacuation directed students, players, and spectators away from the school grounds as officers secured the area. Eden Prairie High School later canceled its homecoming dance scheduled for Saturday night. Classes resumed on Monday with additional support available for students and employees. The suspended football game also resumed on Monday, with Eden Prairie defeating Minnetonka 28-21.
The shooting has sparked renewed discussion within Minnesota's Somali community about youth gun violence. Hassanen Mohamed, executive director of the Minnesota Somali Community Center, stated that while political attacks directed at Minnesota's wider Somali population were wrong, the community also needed to confront violence involving some young people.
In a separate incident on Monday night, Eden Prairie police detained four people after shots were fired at a Speedway gas station about a mile from the high school. Police reported that no one was injured, and authorities have not announced any connection between the gas station incident and Friday's shooting outside the high school.
The Eden Prairie Police Department has not publicly identified a specific gang involved in the shooting. The incident has raised concerns about gang activity and youth violence in the area.
Key points
- Two Somali teenagers were wounded in a gang-related shooting outside Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota.
- The shooting occurred during a homecoming football game and was reportedly gang-related.
- The incident has sparked discussion within Minnesota's Somali community about youth gun violence.
