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Minneapolis Police are investigating three shooting incidents that have killed five and wounded two.
Most if not all of the victims are believed to be Native American.
Officials have arrested a suspect in a shooting Tuesday night that killed three people in the city’s south side.
James Ortley. (Courtesy Hennepin County, Minn.)
The Minnesota Star Tribune says 34-year-old James Ortley was arrested Thursday, though police say other perpetrators may still be on the loose.
Here’s Minneapolis Chief of Police Brian O’Hara at a press briefing on the arrest.
“The United States Marshall’s Office Northstar Fugitive Task Force – assisted by FBI SWAT team – executed an arrest warrant on the 1600 block of South Fourth Street and arrested James Dwayne Ortley, age 34. This is a significant step forward in what has been an intense and fast-moving investigation into the most violent incident this city has suffered this year.”
Ortley’s criminal history in Minnesota includes one conviction each for first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, illegal weapons possession, and fleeing police.
Minnesota Public Radio reports that a prayer and drum circle was held at Cedar Field Park Thursday.
Dozens attended the event, and local leaders called for an end to the violence.
One victim has been identified as 17-year-old Joey Goodwin, regarded as a talented artist.
The murders mar the beginning of American Indian Month in Minnesota. A parade and pow-wow have been canceled.
Chief O’Hara calls the shootings “outrageous and senseless.”
Minneapolis Police are seeking tips on the shootings, that could lead to more arrests.
In southern California, a coalition of Native American tribes, community advocates, and law enforcement are holding their first-ever summit to address Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP).
Danielle Bush is the program director for MMIP San Diego, which will host the summit this Saturday at the Viejas Casino and Resort. She says one of the breakout sessions will be on human trafficking.
“What are the warning signs, red flags of that? And what to do if you or a loved one, or you just see someone who might be in that situation what steps you can take, because we’re trying to end that heinous crime in the community.”
Another breakout session will be with regional law enforcement.
“The goal of that is to educate people about the Savannah Act and about the Feather Alert, and what are your rights, and how to proceed if you have a missing relative or anything that law enforcement can provide support on and building those relationships.”
The final breakout session will be on healing and support services, specifically for the tribal community.
Bush says the San Diego area is close to the U.S-Mexican border, which poses challenges.
“With our proximity to the border and for other reasons, San Diego is a hotspot for human trafficking. I believe third in the country, it’s up there. It’s definitely an issue in the community that we’ve been trying a multi-pronged approach to attacking.”
Bush says MMIP San Diego hopes to grow its resources, so invites anyone in the southern California region to reach out and connect with the organization.
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And the Oglala Sioux Tribe based in South Dakota has voted to cancel its annual pow-wow, rodeo, and fair for 2025.
This year’s Oglala Nation Wacipi was scheduled for early August.
This comes after a shooting at the 2024 event which killed 57-year-old Tom Thunder Hawk August 2.
Despite concerns from the family of the victim, the powwow continued after Thunder Hawk’s shooting.
This year the tribal council has instead allocated a small fund for each of the nine districts to host local powwows.
The event is a major economic driver for the reservation, drawing thousands of tourists from across the nation.
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