Tragedy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two police officers and one firefighter were killed in a shooting. Citizens pay the honours

On Sunday, 18 February 2024, the police in Minneapolis were answering the call for help. A man barricaded himself in a house with seven children. He was armed, and the situation escalated into a shooting. The police officers and the paramedic were shot dead as well as the suspected attacker. All the hostages managed to exit the house safely.

One additional police officer was also wounded in the shooting but survived. The police officers were only twenty-seven years old, and the killed firefighter was of the age of forty and was shot during an attempt to provide aid to previously shot police officers.

The details of the action are not yet known. The police of Minnesota gave information that his negotiations with the suspect lasted for hours, but unfortunately did end in the shooting, resulting in the tragedy. The suspect was equipped with significant amounts of ammunition and was shooting toward the officers from multiple positions in the house.

After the shooting, the investigation started. The house was surrounded by the SWAT vehicles. The neighbouring houses' locators were, of course, woken up by the gun shooting; the whole thing happened an hour before sunrise.

Democratic congresswoman Angie Craig of Minnesota issued a statement. She said that the case is a 'solemn reminder' of how important service and duty are and how significant such sacrifice is. She insisted on remembering about the everyday service of every officer and the support. Protecting communities is a great personal risk and should be admired.

Hundreds of citizens of Minnesota stood in line alongside the route while the bodies of officers were transported from the hospital. They were paying their respect for the heroes killed in action who saved all of the seven children kept hostage; they paid with their own lives.