A shooting at a Minneapolis apartment complex on Wednesday left two civilians and the suspected gunman dead, and injured six others, including three police officers. The incident occurred at the Loring Towers complex, where authorities responded to initial reports of a shooting just after 4:30 p.m. Additional calls reporting more gunfire quickly followed.
While KARE 11 journalist Jennifer Hoff was reporting live from the scene, an unidentified man entered the frame behind her and made gang-like hand gestures. A studio anchor was heard remarking on the man's actions during the live broadcast.
Officers arrived within two minutes and discovered one victim deceased and several others with gunshot wounds. As gunshots continued, police followed the sound to an upper floor, where they engaged in a gunfire exchange with the suspected shooter. Two officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries in this exchange, and a third officer was also injured. All three were expected to recover.
One civilian was pronounced dead at the scene, and another died after being transported to a hospital. Law enforcement sources indicated that the gunman, identified by multiple reports as 35-year-old Carlton Johnson II, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Four other officers experienced adverse effects after exposure to an unknown airborne substance, and two more officers were injured in a squad car crash while responding to the scene.
Court documents revealed that Johnson, who had resided on the ninth floor of the Loring Towers since March 2025, had been served with an eviction order in June but was contesting it. The filings detailed prior incidents, including an alleged assault on another resident. Property managers reported erratic behavior beginning in January, escalating to Johnson allegedly assaulting a resident in March and openly carrying a gun by June.
According to a complaint, on June 11, Johnson was seen with a firearm before allegedly waving it at management personnel in the office. Two days later, he was reportedly seen displaying the weapon publicly and telling other residents he had obtained a new gun and intended to kill someone. Despite this, Johnson had reportedly agreed to comply with the lease terms going forward, and the landlord allowed him to remain on the condition that he cease displaying weapons.
Chris Miller, a resident of Shoreline Plaza, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Johnson had stated earlier in the week his intention to shoot his ex-girlfriend and two building property managers. Miller also mentioned that Johnson had shown him his handgun and concealed-carry permit on several occasions. Miller described Johnson as increasingly angry and possibly intoxicated, following a recent breakup.
Derrick Thompson, a former resident of the complex, told the outlet that he frequently saw Johnson drinking outside and that the suspect was involved in a child custody dispute and had recently had his car repossessed. Thompson characterized Johnson as someone who was "fighting people every day" and had "lost everything."
Shortly before the shooting, another resident claimed Johnson stated his intent to kill the mother of his child. This resident recounted an interaction where Johnson briefly held her, then released her, before proceeding with the shooting.
According to his social media profiles, Johnson was involved in content creation and worked as a machine operator. The Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are continuing their investigation.