A violent incident involving a brawl between eight women outside a Minneapolis nightclub occurred early Sunday morning, hours before a mass shooting took place nearby in the city's Uptown neighborhood. The events have drawn renewed attention to recent public statements by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey regarding the safety of the area.
The fight outside Kiss Lounge & Rooftop, which was hosting a reality TV star, saw several women exchanging blows and engaging in chokeholds, according to footage of the incident. Police officers were observed intervening to break up the altercation.
Approximately two minutes' walk from the nightclub, nine people were shot outside the Reign Event Center around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. The victims, who ranged in age from 18 to 27, sustained gunshot wounds. Two men were reported to be in life-threatening condition. Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson described the shooting as a "brazen act of violence in a crowded entertainment district where innocent people were placed at tremendous risk." Investigators are examining whether shots were fired from a vehicle and are working to determine if the nightclub fight and the shooting are connected.
The nightclub shooting occurred during a meet-and-greet event with reality television personality Ivori Babu. Babu posted on social media that her booking was "shot up with a switch."
Mayor Frey issued a statement condemning the Uptown shooting, calling it "intolerable." He emphasized the need for accountability and the utilization of all available tools to ensure street safety, including law enforcement partnerships, increased police hiring, and technological advancements like drones and ShotSpotter. "This is a stark reminder that keeping our streets safe requires every tool available," Frey stated.
Frey's comments come months after he and former police chief Brian O'Hara held a press conference in April asserting that Uptown was safe. "We hear Uptown. This neighborhood matters, and people need to feel safe here," Frey said at the time, referencing increased patrols and safety measures. O'Hara resigned in May amid an investigation into alleged misconduct.
Last year, Minneapolis experienced a significant increase in crime. In response, city officials implemented new safety initiatives in Uptown. However, the events of Sunday morning have led to renewed scrutiny of these efforts and the mayor's public assessments of the neighborhood's security.