Minneapolis residents are waiting for answers after a gunman opened fire in a high-rise apartment building, leading to a gunfight with police the afternoon of Sept. 2. Three people, including the suspect, were killed.
A total of six others were injured, including three police officers. Two officers and three other people were hit with gunfire and a third officer had unspecified injuries, authorities said.
The shooting unfolded at about 4:36 p.m., according to Minneapolis Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson, who said officers began responding to an active shooting situation after multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in the downtown building.
The police officers who responded were hailed for putting themselves in harm's way to help people escape.
"But for their heroic work the death toll would be far higher," Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.
Here's what we know about the Minneapolis shooting:
What happened in Minneapolis apartment building shooting?
Dispatchers received an initial 911 call at about 4:36 p.m., and officers were on the scene less than two minutes later, Peterson said.
When officers entered the high-rise building, they discovered victims and heard gunshots. They followed the sound of gunfire to an upper floor and encountered a "haze" that limited their visibility, Peterson said. There, they exchanged gunfire with the suspect.
Three officers were injured. One was shot in the leg and another was shot twice in the abdomen, according to Frey. The third officer's injuries weren't specified but were not life-threatening, officials said.
The suspect was dead, and police said it was unknown how he died as of Sept. 2.
Who were the victims?
One victim was dead at the scene and another was transported to a hospital and also died. Three others were transported to the hospital with injuries, Peterson said.
Authorities have not identified any of the victims or said what their relationship to the suspect may have been.
At least some of the victims are believed to have lived in the building, Peterson said.
The officers who were shot have also not been identified. Peterson said they are expected to make a full recovery.
What we know about the suspect
Authorities have not identified the suspected gunman as of early on Sept. 3. USA TODAY has reached out to the Minneapolis Police Department for more information.
Peterson said in a news conference on Sept. 2 that the suspect was known previously to police. Police were called to the building in June after the suspect allegedly threatened residents with a weapon, Peterson said.
"We were familiar with who this individual was," he said.
Contributing: Michael Loria and James Powel, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 dead, including suspect, after Minneapolis shooting. Latest updates
