MINNEAPOLIS — A 16-year-old girl tragically lost her life and five others were injured after a driver plowed into a crowd in downtown Minneapolis just after midnight on Saturday, September 14, 2024. The Minneapolis Police Department has arrested a 22-year-old woman, suspected of deliberately driving into the group before fleeing the scene. She is currently in custody awaiting possible criminal charges.
“There aren’t words to describe how tragic and senseless it is to lose a 16-year-old female over something like this,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “There were at least a dozen people in the immediate path of the vehicle as the suspect drove through the crowd.”
The incident followed a physical altercation between teenagers and young adults, according to O’Hara. Preliminary reports suggest the driver left the fight, got into an SUV, and drove in reverse down Hennepin Avenue before speeding the wrong way on Fifth Street North, crashing into a large group of people. Chief O’Hara confirmed that video footage suggests the act was intentional, not random.
All victims were rushed to Hennepin Healthcare Hospital. Sadly, the 16-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries. Two 14-year-old girls and two men in their twenties sustained injuries and are expected to recover, while a 29-year-old woman remains in critical condition.
The investigation is ongoing, with Minneapolis police following several leads and reviewing surveillance and cellphone video evidence. Chief O’Hara hinted that more arrests could follow as the investigation unfolds.