A gunman opened fire inside a downtown Minneapolis apartment tower Wednesday evening, killing two people and wounding three police officers before he was found dead, authorities said. The rampage at Shoreline Plaza, a high-rise near Loring Park formerly known as Loring Towers, sent officers into a smoke-filled building exchanging gunfire with a resident who had been fighting eviction.

Minneapolis police say the first 911 call came in around 4:36 p.m. reporting one person shot at the building on East Grant Street, near Nicollet Avenue. Officers arrived within minutes, found a victim already down, and then heard additional gunfire from upper floors as they moved through the building. A haze that officials say severely limited visibility filled the stairwells and hallways as the confrontation unfolded.

Two officers were shot — one in the leg, another twice in the abdomen and taken into surgery — while a third was hurt without being struck by gunfire. All three were listed in stable condition and expected to recover, according to MPR News. Five civilians in total were wounded by gunfire, and two people were killed. The suspect was later found dead inside the building.

Suspect had history of threats at the building

Police identified the gunman as Carlton Neal Johnson II, 35, a resident of the complex. Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson told reporters officers were "familiar with who this individual was," and Mayor Jacob Frey praised the responding officers, saying that without their actions "the death toll would have been far higher," according to NBC News.

"They rescued victims ... all while getting shot at themselves." — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey

Court filings reviewed by KSTP show building management had moved to evict Johnson after documenting at least six disturbances dating back to January, including an assault on another resident and incidents in which he displayed a firearm and made threats. Management initially gave Johnson a conditional reprieve requiring him to keep any weapon concealed on the property, but eviction proceedings continued and a court hearing had been scheduled for Sept. 11 — a week and a half after the shooting.

Witnesses reported hearing more than two dozen gunshots during the standoff. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is leading the investigation, with the FBI and ATF also assisting local police, and FBI Director Kash Patel offered additional federal resources, according to CBS News Minnesota.

Gov. Tim Walz thanked first responders for their actions. Police have not yet released the names of the two people killed, and the exact circumstances of how the suspect died — whether by a self-inflicted gunshot or in the exchange of fire with officers — had not been officially confirmed by Thursday morning. Investigators say the building has been secured and there is no ongoing threat to the public, though the block around Grant Street and Nicollet Avenue remained cordoned off overnight as evidence teams worked the scene.