Three dead, including a police officer, in shooting in Minneapolis

A series of shootings in Minneapolis on Thursday afternoon left a police officer dead and two other people, including the gunman, dead, city officials said. Three people were injured, including another police officer and a firefighter.

Police were alerted to a shooting at an apartment complex in Whittier, a neighborhood south of downtown, that left one person dead and another injured, Drew Evans, head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said at a news conference. Authorities did not identify the shooter or the motive.

Later, one of the police officers, Jamal Mitchell, was shot about two blocks from the apartment complex, Mr. Evans said. Mr. Mitchell was on his way to the scene of the first shooting when he got out of his car to provide medical aid to an injured person, Mr. Evans said. That person shot Mr. Mitchell from behind, Mr. Evans said.

A passerby was shot at the scene and is in a critical condition, Mr Evans added. A firefighter was also injured in the exchange of gunfire.

A second police officer arrived shortly after Mr. Mitchell was shot, Mr. Evans said. After exchanging gunfire with the gunman, the second officer was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening. The gunman died at the scene after receiving first aid.

Mr. Mitchell died at Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was taken with the other officer, Katie Blackwell, deputy chief of operations for the Minneapolis Police Department, said at the news conference. Mr. Mitchell had been with the police force for about 18 months, she said.