UPDATED: 12:38 p.m. PT
Five people have been shot near a Black Lives Matter protest in Minneapolis on Monday night, Minneapolis police said. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
The protest was spurred by the death of Jamar Clark, 24, who was allegedly shot by Minneapolis police on Nov. 15 and later died in hospital.
The shooters are believed to be three white men wearing bulletproof vests, a law enforcement source told local news station KSTP. Minneapolis Police have arrested one 23-year-old white male and a 32-year-old Hispanic male in connection with the shootings, though the search for additional suspects continues. Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges has pledged to remain steadfast in the search, tweeting, "We are sparing no efforts to bring any and all those responsible to justice."
MPD arrest 23y/o white male in Bloomington related to last night's shooting near 4th PCT. Addl' suspects sought. Info call 612-692-TIPS.— Minneapolis Police (@MinneapolisPD) November 24, 2015
2nd suspect in shooting near 4th PCT arrested in S Mpls at 1205pm. 32y/o Hispanic male. Search for addl' suspects continues.— Minneapolis Police (@MinneapolisPD) November 24, 2015
Witnesses said they saw three people wearing masks who left the crowd and began walking down the street. A few protesters followed them, and they pulled out weapons and gunshots rang out, witness Oluchi Omeoga told the Associated Press. One protester who witnessed the shooting, Jie Wronski-Riley, described chaotic scenes to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Wronski-Riley said the gunshots sounded like firecrackers, but then the people standing on either side of him were shot and went down.
"They turned around and they just started shooting, and at first I wasn’t sure,” said Wronski-Riley. "There was so much chaos and I was like, surely they are not shooting at people."
What happened: protesters shot at #4thPrecinctShutDown https://t.co/KgHoBD0D1I @StarTribune pic.twitter.com/Ip1f7cX1GU— Mark Vancleave (@mvnclv) November 24, 2015
Protests have taken place across the city in the wake of Clark's death, amid calls for police footage of the incident to be released and the officers involved prosecuted. The actions have centered on the Fourth Precinct police station in north Minneapolis, close to where Monday night's shooting is reported to have taken place.
Choppers flying over, police trying to interview witnesses. pic.twitter.com/zoQPwzMUXP— Abby Simons (@AJillSimons) November 24, 2015
Dep. Chief Arradondo says five people r being treated w what he said r serious, but not life-threatening injuries. pic.twitter.com/CVRh2SpS7z— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) November 24, 2015
Clark's family issued a statement attributed to his brother Eddie Sutton. It thanked protesters for the "incredible support" they have shown the family.
"But in light of tonight's shootings, the family feels out of imminent concern for the safety of the occupiers, we must get the occupation of the 4th precinct ended and onto the next step," the statement said.
Now at scene @keithellison, & other unidentified officials. Activists also reading letter frm #JamarClark brother. pic.twitter.com/7WQFHoytn1— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) November 24, 2015
Mpls police: 2 shooting victims taken to HCMC. 3 self-transported to N. Mem. Crime scene 14th & Morgan 1 block from 4th precinct protest— Boyd Huppert (@BoydHuppert) November 24, 2015
At #4thPrecinctShutDown, activists looking at videos of alleged shooters. Helicopter hovering above. #JamarClark pic.twitter.com/963DeoIN6J— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) November 24, 2015
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges has requested a federal investigation into the circumstances of Clark's death. U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Ben Petok said Monday his office and the FBI are working with the U.S. Department of Justice to determine if any criminal civil rights violations took place during Clark's shooting.
Democratic National Convention Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has condemned the violence, calling the shootings "horrific and tragic," and advocating for U.S. leaders to protect protesters' rights to "peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances."
This story is ongoing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
UPDATES:
12:36 p.m. PT, with statement from DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
10:05 a.m. PT, with information on suspect arrests
7:30 a.m. GMT, with detail on suspected shooters
8:50 a.m. GMT, adds family statement