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A Minneapolis police officer was shot and wounded while trailing robbery suspects in an unmarked vehicle. The officer, Jacob Spies, was treated and discharged after being shot in the shoulder. The suspects may not have known they were targeting a police officer. Four suspects, including a teenage boy, were apprehended, and an unregistered “ghost gun” was recovered. The incident occurred during a violent night in Minneapolis that included a mass shooting and a fatal domestic stabbing. Police officials described the incident as an “aberration” in a year of reduced gun violence. shooting-at-minneapolis-police-officer/600296750/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Liz Sawyer reported
An image of a police car can be seen in the provided link. On Friday night, a Minneapolis police officer was following a group of robbery suspects in an unmarked vehicle when he was suddenly met with a hail of gunfire. The officer, identified as Jacob Spies, a seven-year veteran of the department, sustained a shoulder injury and was promptly taken to the hospital. Initially referred to as an “ambush,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara later stated that the gunmen may not have been aware that they were targeting a police officer. It remains unclear whether the suspects in the vehicle mistook the officer for someone else or recognized him as law enforcement but still attempted to harm him. The officer was not in full uniform but instead wore a discreet blue Minneapolis police T-shirt, making it difficult to identify him as a police officer. Four suspects, including a teenage boy, were apprehended, and an unregistered firearm was recovered by investigators. It is unknown whether the shots were fired from inside the suspects’ vehicle or while they were standing on the street. The incident occurred during a particularly violent night in Minneapolis, with numerous police squad cars responding to priority 1 calls, including a mass shooting and a fatal domestic stabbing. Despite a reduction in gunshot and homicide victims this year, the events of that night underscore the work that still needs to be done to address ongoing issues of violence. In terms of the incident involving Officer Spies, it began with officers observing a white Chevrolet Equinox in the vicinity of a recent robbery. When officers attempted to stop the SUV, it initially complied but then fled. About an hour later, Officer Spies, who was working with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, spotted the same Chevy and began pursuing it while calling for backup. However, when he reached the 4300 block of Colfax Avenue N., he was suddenly met with a barrage of gunfire. At least 14 shots were fired, with six hitting the squad car and one striking Officer Spies in the shoulder. He managed to drive to another location, where a backup officer pulled him from the vehicle and rushed him to the hospital. Shortly after the shooting, the suspects’ vehicle was spotted again, leading to a high-speed chase that ended in a crash. Two men, one woman, and a teenage boy were arrested, with the males sustaining injuries. The Minneapolis Police Chief described the area where the shooting occurred as an ideal spot for an ambush due to its configuration. Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized the bravery and sacrifice displayed by law enforcement officers who willingly face danger in the line of duty. Meanwhile, community activists circulated a Facebook post alleging that a 16-year-old boy arrested in connection with the incident had been severely beaten by the police, resulting in serious injuries. However, the police chief stated that he had reviewed dashcam footage and saw no evidence of excessive force. The boy remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Officer Spies was discharged from the hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning, with a crowd of over 120 officers waiting outside to salute him. His release was met with applause as he walked to his SUV, followed by a convoy led by Chief O’Hara’s vehicle..
