A veteran has been named as one of the individuals who died in a shooting that took place in Minneapolis, Minn., last week, killing three people and injuring six others.
The gunman, identified by the New York Times as Carlton Neal Johnson II, a 35-year-old who was facing eviction from his apartment, carried out the killings Sept. 2 in the Shoreline Plaza apartment building.
The Minnestoa Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Thursday named veteran Dale Henry Spry, 63, and Muse A. Afrah, 61, as the victims who were killed. The suspected shooter also killed himself. Six others were injured, including three Minneapolis police officers.
Authorities said they believed both of the deceased individuals lived at the apartment complex.
Spry’s daughter, Sarah Parsons, told local news affiliate FOX9 KSTP she was “speechless” when she learned of his death.
“I didn’t know how to register it,” Parson told FOX9. “He hasn’t been a part of my life for so long.”
“It’s scary. It’s honestly scary,” she added. “I mean, just going up into the building was like, I was still shaking about it. I can’t believe it just happened.”
Parsons told the outlet that her father had been estranged from his family for some three decades, and that he struggled from PTSD and alcohol abuse.
There is no indication that the shooter targeted Spry or Afrah.
“It just doesn’t make sense for him to be shot,” Spry’s nephew, Kendall Coleman, told FOX9 about a man who is remembered as a jokester and peacekeeper.
Coleman has started an online fundraiser to honor Spry’s memory. At the time of publication, it has accrued $1,140 in donations.
“‘Button up,’ he would say. I don’t know where he must have got that from the service. But button up, man, we’re gonna be all right,” Coleman said.
Other Injured Parties
Three police officers were among those injured in the attack. They were called to the scene at around 4:36 p.m. local time.
“The courage and bravery these officers exhibited is practically unrivaled,” Mayor Jacob Frey said in an interview Thursday morning about the police at the scene. “They were rescuing victims at the same time as they were taking bullets themselves.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Bill Peterson called the incident “the cowardly acts of a violent shooter” at a press conference last Wednesday.
City officials said in statements on Thursday that the injured police officers are expected to make a full recovery. They did not disclose the conditions of the other injured individuals.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the shooting. FBI Director Kash Patel also said his agency was aware of the issue.
“We will offer any and all resources necessary to assist local authorities,” Patel said on X.
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