Minneapolis authorities are looking into two consecutive fatal shootings that happened over the weekend, affecting six individuals at two different homeless encampments in the area.

As of Monday, there had been no arrests related to the incidents which resulted in three deaths and left one other person in critical condition. Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis connected this violence and recent crime at encampments to the opioid fentanyl.

According to the Minneapolis Police Department, the first shooting occurred on Saturday at around 4:45 a.m. in a homeless encampment located roughly two miles southeast of downtown.

Upon arrival, officers found three male victims who had been shot. All were taken to a nearby hospital, where a 31-year-old man was pronounced dead. As of Monday, Sgt. Garrett Parten indicated that the conditions of the remaining two victims were still unknown.

Homicide detectives are scrutinizing the circumstances leading up to the shooting and are exploring whether three suspects who left the scene on foot are involved. Authorities are also trying to establish any connection the injured men had to the encampment, as stated in a police release.

As of Monday morning, the suspects had not yet been identified.

Additional shooting at a different camp

The second shooting occurred the following day in the afternoon at another encampment near railroad tracks, situated five miles southeast of downtown, according to police reports. This camp is located about three and a half miles from where the initial shooting occurred.

This incident unfolded at approximately 2:20 p.m., when unknown assailants shot three individuals at the encampment — two men and one woman. The two men, aged 32 and 38, were both declared dead at the scene, while the woman was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

After the second incident, police reported that three individuals were taken into custody but were later released without charges. Details surrounding their detention were not disclosed.

Identities of victims yet to be revealed

Authorities mentioned that they have not dismissed the chance that the two shootings could be connected and that the investigation into the motives behind these acts continues.

“The brutal killing of three individuals inside a tent at an encampment is appalling,” stated Police Chief Brian O’Hara on Sunday. “Every life matters, and these encampments are not safe.”

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will provide the names of the victims along with the official causes and manners of death, as indicated by police.

YSL News has contacted the medical examiner’s office for further details.

Concerns over safety in encampments

During a press conference on Sunday, Frey discussed the rise in shootings and homicides near homeless encampments throughout Minneapolis.

“This is an incredibly tragic situation… the occurrence of this violence at homeless camps is not coincidental,” Frey stated. “We need to be honest about this situation. It’s not about a shortage of shelter… the crimes we are observing are linked to fentanyl.”

Fentanyl, a potentially lethal synthetic opioid approved for pain management, is often mixed into cocaine and other illegal drugs. Even when those mixtures do not lead to fatal outcomes, they can greatly increase the user’s risk of developing an addiction.

According to Tom Doub, who is the Chief Clinical and Compliance Officer at American Addiction Centers, drug dealers often use fentanyl as a cost-effective way to enhance the potency of other substances, making them cheaper to produce and purchase on the street.

City Council Member Jason Chavez expressed disagreement with Frey’s assertion connecting the violence to fentanyl, as reported by KARE 11, and accused the mayor of deflecting responsibility onto the city council.

“What we are witnessing is people being evicted from their housing, ending up sheltered or in camps. This is not simply a fentanyl issue,” Chavez remarked, advocating for a “housing-first approach.”

“If we can provide individuals with housing options, mental health services, addiction treatment, and job opportunities, their chances of securing stable housing improve significantly. This approach has proven effective. We need to expand upon this in Minneapolis,” he added, according to KARE 11.

O’Hara stated that the department is actively addressing crime connected to homeless encampments while the city remains committed to offering support services.

“To break the cycle of violence that is intensified by drug use and mental health challenges, it’s vital for residents at these encampments to utilize the resources available to them,” O’Hara emphasized.

This story has been updated to include new information.