Minneapolis city officials have moved to permanently close a homeless encampment on private property near Lake Street and 28th Avenue South. The decision comes on the heels of a violent night where gunfire erupted within the camp, leaving seven people injured, four with life-threatening wounds. The shooting occurred around 10 p.m. on Monday, just hours after a separate, unrelated shooting injured five men near the Lake Street transit station earlier that morning. Citing urgent health and safety risks, the city began clearing the site on Tuesday, stating that the encampment had become a dangerous hotspot for violence and exploitation despite months of attempted intervention.
Property Owner Battles City As Officials Target Safety Risks
The closure has sparked a legal standoff between the city and property owner Hamoudi Sabri, who allowed the encampment to remain on his land despite repeated citations. City officials argue that the site lacked basic necessities like water and sanitation, creating hazardous conditions that fueled crime and health risks. Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized that while the city is committed to helping the unhoused with shelter and addiction services, allowing dangerous encampments to persist is not a solution. Sabri, however, has pushed back, claiming the city’s aggressive tactics are violating the rights of the unhoused. As crews clear the property and police secure the area, the legal battle over the site’s future continues to unfold in court.
