Four Children Discovered Shot in Stolen Vehicle

In a shocking incident in Minneapolis, four children aged 11 to 14 were shot while driving in a stolen car. The assault occurred when an unknown assailant pursued the vehicle, unleashing gunfire that left one child critically injured.

The gunfire erupted around 1 a.m. on Sunday in northwest Minneapolis, triggering ShotSpotter alerts and resulting in several 911 calls, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.

The victims included two boys and two girls, with an 11-year-old boy behind the wheel of the stolen car also taken into custody. Among the injured, one girl sustained a gunshot wound to the head and is currently in critical but stable condition at Hennepin Medical Center. The other three children are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.

The identities of the injured children have not been disclosed.

“It is outrageous that four kids, aged 11 to 14, have been shot. Everyone should be alarmed by this situation,” Chief O’Hara stated on Sunday. He emphasized that while the police are working diligently, there needs to be a greater effort to prevent such incidents before they occur.

The gunman remains at large, and authorities are investigating the incident further to uncover the motive behind the shooting.

Preliminary reports suggest that five minors were traveling in the stolen Kia when a dark-colored sedan began tailing them, eventually firing at the vehicle using fully automatic gunfire.

Police recovered at least 30 shell casings from the scene. Chief O’Hara mentioned that more rounds might have been discharged since some casings could belong to the suspect’s vehicle.

The chief indicated that the 11-year-old who was driving and unharmed was detained at the site of the incident but subsequently released to his parents. Notably, two of the juveniles in the stolen car had been arrested less than two weeks prior for involvement in another stolen vehicle incident.

“We are failing to deter this behavior and, in doing so, we are failing these kids as well,” O’Hara remarked.

He noted that the shooting comes amid a recent spike in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles. This increase follows a decline in such thefts over the past year.

“While overall thefts of these vehicles have reduced, the actions of these juveniles have become increasingly bold. There have been more aggravated assaults, robberies, hit-and-run incidents, and serious crimes committed by those involved in the theft of these cars. This is a significant concern,” he stated.

The chief added that the severity of the shooting reflects a troubling escalation in the brazen behavior exhibited by those engaging in criminal activities.

“This incident exemplifies their reckless and callous attitude. They show a blatant disregard for not only their own lives but also the lives of others around them,” O’Hara concluded.