The individual who was killed in a shooting incident overnight in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis has been identified as a firefighter from the metro area, according to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. The incident occurred around 12:40 a.m. on Sunday when police responded to a report of two individuals being shot in the 900 block of Cedar Avenue South.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a man in his 40s in a parking lot behind 901 Cedar Avenue South. He was transported to Hennepin Healthcare, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Another injured man arrived at the hospital in a passenger vehicle, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. At this time, his identity remains unknown.
Authorities believe that shots were fired from across 9th Street towards a group of people gathered in the parking lot. It is unclear what led to the shooting, the number of individuals involved, or who fired the shots.
Later in the day, it was confirmed that the deceased individual was firefighter Joseph C. Johns. Eden Prairie city officials expressed their condolences and stated that Johns had been serving as a duty-crew firefighter in Eden Prairie since September 2, 2015, and was also a career firefighter for the city of Eagan since January 13, 2020.
The city of Eagan confirmed that Johns had tragically passed away while off duty and expressed gratitude to the Burnsville and Inver Grove Heights fire departments for handling calls on behalf of the Eagan Fire Department.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to contact CrimeStoppers either by clicking the provided link or by calling 1-800-222-8477.