GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — One dead after double shooting on Metro Transit bus
A person was fatally shot on a Metro Transit bus Thursday night in downtown Minneapolis, according to police. Minneapolis police say they were dispatched to the area of First Ave. and 9th Street near the Target Center just before 9:30 p.m. where they learned that two people on a bus had been shot. One person was killed and the other was critically injured. Metro Transit worked with Minneapolis police and were able to arrest a suspect near the area of Nicollett Ave and 7th St. Authorities were also able to locate a handgun. According to police, the bus is believed to have been stopped when an individual got onto the bus and shot two people. It is unknown how many people were on the bus at the time of the shooting.
The Carver County Parks and Recreation Department is threatening a shutdown of the off-leash dog park at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park, as a result of park goers not picking up after their dogs. In a Facebook post, the county says the current conditions of the park are unsightly and unsanitary for use and unless the place is cleaned up by 7:30 a.m. Monday morning, the park will be closed down. Carver County does have an ordinance in place which requires pet owners to clean up after their dogs. The county has scheduled a clean up event for Feb. 8th and 9th from 8:30 am to 10:30 am and are asking for volunteers to come out and bring tools to get the place cleaned. Several people took it upon themselves Thursday to scoop up trash bags full of dog waste before Monday's deadline.
For months, riders of the Metro Transit Light-Rail system have raised safety concerns in response to a spike in violent crime. Now, as the Minnesota legislature begins to address the issue, another group is making its voice heard. Representative Paul Torkelson called a hearing after learning robberies on the light rail rose by 26% last year, while aggravated assaults jumped 56%. One light-rail operator said at the hearing that the workers aren't considered in the discussions about crime, and that some of them are now afraid to go to work. Because the legislative process takes time, Torkelson says he's hopeful the Met Council will also take immediate steps to increase transit police presence.
