A suspect in a shooting that killed congressional candidate Lacy Johnson’s 17-year-old staffer and wounded another was arrested Thursday.
Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) reported that they apprehended the suspect after a short vehicle chase. MPD attempted to stop the suspect’s vehicle in Minneapolis; they caught him about twenty minutes west in Plymouth.
On Monday, MPD officers responded to a shooting around 4:30 p.m. in the Fremont Avenue North area. Two teenaged males were shot, according to the department’s press release.
“Officers arrived and located two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the individuals did not have a pulse or respirations. Officers began CPR and wound management until relieved by paramedics. Other officers dealt with the other injured party and scene security. A 17-year-old male victim was transported to the North Memorial Health Hospital where he died a short time later. The other victim, an adult male in his late teens, was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center with non-life-threatening wounds.”
Prior to the shooting, the two victims were standing with a group in front of a Super USA convenience store. Investigators believe that one or more shooters approached on foot and fired into the group. Some witnesses stated that a green truck pulled up just before the shooting.
Although the medical examiner has yet to release the victim’s identity, Patrick Henry High School posted news identifying a senior student, Andre Conley, as the slain victim. The other victim, Andre Kelley, continues to receive medical treatment.
Conley marks Minneapolis’s 59th homicide this year. He was a paid intern for the Johnson campaign; the shooting didn’t take place during any campaign activities.
Johnson, the Republican candidate running against incumbent Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN-5) tweeted a statement on the matter on Wednesday. The candidate added that his campaign is offering resources to both families and assistance to local officials on the case.
“We can confirm that the victims of this senseless violence were young, motivated [paid] members of the Lacy Johnson campaign outreach team. Today we are shocked and saddened to learn of this senseless act of violence. It is shocking and unnecessary acts of violence like this that prove why change is more needed than ever in our community.”
THREAD: ON RECENT SHOOTINGS IN CD5
We are talking with the parents of the young victims of the shootings on Monday.
We are reaching out to provide or help secure resources to meet their needs in such a time of grief, sorrow, and trauma.
— Lacy Johnson (@LacyJohnsonMN) September 16, 2020
Neither Omar nor her campaign have yet issued a statement on the shooting in their district.
A gofundme campaign was set up by community members to support Andre’s family. After being notified of the fundraiser, the family decided to pass on the funds to the Kelley and his family.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Andre Conley” by gofundme.
