The Minnesota National Guard and police team were shot in a car shooting, the officer says

by

The team was providing neighborhood security in Minneapolis when, around 4:19 a.m. local time (5:19 am ET), a light-colored SUV passed by and several shots were fired.

No member of the team was seriously injured, although two members of the National Guard suffered minor injuries: one was injured by broken glass and was taken to a local hospital, while the other suffered “only superficial wounds, “according to the statement.

The city is on the verge of the expected conclusion this week in the trial against former police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd last May. The area has experienced additional protests over the past week following the deadly shooting of Daunte Wright by police in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis.
Minneapolis and other US cities increase security ahead of trial verdict Derek Chauvin

The Minnesota National Guard was activated in response to both events, according to the National Guard statement, which joined the “Safety Network Operation,” an effort that involved the state, the Police Department. of Minneapolis and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.

“I am relieved to know that none of our guards were seriously injured,” Major General Shawn Manke, deputy general of the Minnesota National Guard, said in the statement. “This event highlights the volatility and tension of our communities at this time. I call for peace as we work through this difficult time.”

Gov. Tim Walz told WCCO, a CNN affiliate, that he was talking to the two wounded guards, one of whom said he had previously served in a National Guard unit.

“They’re fine,” Walz said. “But it highlights the danger the situation can pose.”

Asked about the upcoming Chauvin trial verdict, Walz said, “The verdict will be a key point in the history of our state, and the way we respond to it will shape us.”

CNN’s Raja Razek contributed to this report.

.Source