Officials identify victims killed, officers injured in Minneapolis apartment shooting

Minnesota officials released the identities of the victims involved in Wednesday’s Minneapolis apartment shooting that left two civilians dead and two police officers injured by gunfire.

The two civilians were Dale Henry Spry, 63, and Muse A. Afrah, 61, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Officials previously said one victim died at the scene and the other died at a hospital.

Both victims are believed to have been residents of the apartment complex where Carlton Neal Johnson II, 35, opened fire before he was fatally struck in an exchange of gunfire with police. A preliminary autopsy indicated Johnson died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide, officials said.

The two Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers injured in the shooting were identified as Joseph Michnowski, a five-year veteran, and Yahye Ahmed, a nearly two-year veteran, according to the BCA.

3 DEAD, INCLUDING SUSPECTED GUNMAN, AND 3 OFFICERS INJURED IN MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING

The suspected gunman in the shooting in downtown Minneapolis, Minn., reportedly was facing eviction from the apartment building. (Ellen Schmidt/AP)

Ahmed was released from the hospital Thursday, while Michnowski remained hospitalized Thursday afternoon, Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson said during a briefing.

Garrett Parten, an MPD public information officer, said one of the injured officers sustained an apparent non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg, while the other underwent surgery.

Another officer involved in the incident was also evaluated for an apparent non-life-threatening injury, Parten said.

MINNEAPOLIS APARTMENT SHOOTING SUSPECT WAS FACING EVICTION: REPORT

Officers investigate the aftermath of a shooting in Minneapolis Wednesday. (Ellen Schmidt/AP Photo)

Peterson identified the third officer as Ernest Boateng, but clarified that his injuries were not directly related to the gunfire. Boateng was cut by glass while breaking a window of a locked police vehicle whose sirens were going off, Peterson said.

Boateng was evaluated and released Wednesday.

The BCA said at least one officer discharged his firearm during the incident, identifying the officer as Liban Mohamed Ibrahim, a two-year MPD veteran.

"Investigators are continuing to determine whether any other officers fired their weapons," BCA said.

Law enforcement responds to a shooting in Minneapolis Wednesday. (Ellen Schmidt/AP Photo)

Wednesday’s shooting began during a domestic child custody exchange involving a woman who previously had a relationship with Johnson, according to Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Johnson reportedly shot the woman outside the building before going inside the apartment, where he shot another facility worker. He then went to the ninth floor, where he shot two residents who later died.

He was also facing eviction from the apartment building, according to court records obtained by Fox9 Minneapolis.

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Officials have not determined whether Johnson specifically targeted the victims.