The suspect in a fatal shooting at a Minneapolis apartment complex on Wednesday was facing eviction and had made threats to neighbors prior to the attack that killed two people and injured four others. Carlton Johnson II, 35, had received an eviction order for his ninth-floor unit at Loring Towers in June but was contesting it.
Court documents revealed Johnson's history of violence, including an assault on another resident. He had also allegedly threatened to kill someone months before the shooting. The suspect's erratic behavior reportedly began in January with disturbances at the complex. By March 23, Johnson assaulted a resident, and in June, he started openly carrying a firearm. The situation escalated on June 11, when Johnson was seen with his gun and allegedly displayed it to multiple staff members in the management office. On the same day, he reportedly told other residents he had a new gun and "would kill someone." Two days later, he was observed flashing his gun publicly.
Following the eviction order, Johnson reportedly assured property managers he would comply with lease terms and was allowed to remain on the condition that he cease displaying weapons. Johnson, who died at the scene, was scheduled to appear in court for an eviction hearing on September 11.
While a motive for the shooting remains unclear, Minneapolis police stated they were "familiar" with the suspect. A resident named Chris Miller told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Johnson had mentioned plans to shoot his ex-girlfriend and two building property managers earlier in the week. Miller also claimed to have emailed building management, warning them of Johnson's remarks days before the incident. Miller described Johnson as "very, very angry, drunk and mad," and noted he was upset about a recent breakup.
Another resident, Derrick Thompson, who had recently moved out of the complex, observed Johnson frequently drinking outside and mentioned the suspect was involved in a child custody dispute and had his car repossessed. "He was fighting people every day, every damn day," Thompson said. "He lost everything."
Moments before the shooting, an unidentified woman reported that Johnson grabbed her and stated he would kill the mother of his child and force her to witness it. The woman recounted that Johnson eventually released her, saying she did not deserve it because she always prayed for him. However, he still vowed to kill the mother of his child.
Minneapolis police received the initial call reporting one person shot at Loring Towers at 4:36 p.m. Additional calls about gunfire soon followed. Responding officers arrived at 4:39 p.m. to find one deceased victim and several others with gunshot wounds. Following the sound of gunfire, officers encountered a "haze" that limited visibility on an upper floor, leading to an exchange of gunfire with the suspect. Two officers were wounded, and a third sustained a non-life-threatening injury. The suspect died at the scene; it is undetermined if he was killed by police or by suicide.
Police evacuated residents unit by unit. A total of seven patients were transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, with one later pronounced dead. Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson expressed dismay at the incident, noting it was the third such event during his 31-year career. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey commended the responding officers, stating their "heroic work" likely prevented a higher death toll. The Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating the incident. 
