MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Minneapolis police are asking for the public’s help finding a car they say is connected to the mass shooting outside Reign Event Center that left nine people injured. Investigators released an image of the vehicle and said it may help them identify people involved in the gunfire that erupted near the Uptown nightclub on July 19.
The department said the shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. in the 2900 block of Hennepin Avenue. Officers reached the scene in less than a minute and quickly called for additional help because of the size of the crowd and the number of people hurt.
Police identify a black Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 as the vehicle of interest
In its public notice, the Minneapolis Police Department described the car as a 2016 black Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 with distinctive wheels, heavily tinted windows and a sunroof. Police also said it carries Wisconsin blackout license plate ZAC-6116.
Officials did not say who was driving the vehicle or how it may have been used in the shooting. They are instead asking anyone who recognizes the car to contact investigators and share what they know before approaching it.
The department said people should not try to stop the car or speak with anyone inside if they see it. Instead, police want the public to call 911 immediately and let trained officers handle the situation.
Nine people were hurt in the shootout outside the nightclub
Police said officers learned at the scene that nine victims had been injured in a shootout outside the club. The victims included seven men and two women, all between the ages of 18 and 27.
Four of the injured were found at the scene. The others later arrived at local hospitals for treatment, according to police.
At a Sunday afternoon news conference, police said two of the wounded men suffered life-threatening injuries, though both were expected to survive. The department has not released the victims’ names.
Officers arrived quickly but faced a crowded and chaotic scene
Minneapolis police said they were dispatched after reports of multiple people being shot at Reign Event Center on Hennepin Avenue in the city’s Uptown entertainment district. The first officers arrived in under a minute, according to the department.
Because of the number of people at the scene and the scale of the emergency, officers called for backup almost immediately. Police said the crowded setting made the response more difficult, even as officers worked to get help to the wounded as quickly as possible.
The shooting took place in an area known for nightlife and entertainment, which intensified the concern around the incident. Police described it as a dangerous event that put innocent bystanders at serious risk.
Interim Chief Bill Peterson called the shooting cowardly and disgusting
Interim police chief Bill Peterson sharply condemned the violence during comments after the shooting, calling it “another senseless act of gun violence.” He said the attack was brazen and took place in a crowded entertainment district where innocent people were placed in danger.
Peterson also described the shooting as “unthinkable, disgusting and cowardly.” His remarks reflected the department’s view that the incident was not only a major public safety threat, but also an especially reckless act in a busy nightlife area.
Police have not said whether they believe the shooting was targeted or what may have led to the gunfire. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the case.
How the public can share tips with investigators
Anyone with information about the vehicle or the shooting can call 911, according to police. Officials said people should use that option if they spot the car or have immediate information about its location.
Investigators also provided other ways to send tips. People can email policetips@minneapolismn.gov, leave a voicemail at 612-673-5845, or submit an anonymous tip through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Police are hoping the vehicle image will generate leads that help identify those involved in the July shooting. For now, the car remains one of the clearest public clues in the case.
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