Suspected gunman in downtown Minneapolis mass shooting was facing eviction, court records show
Bizeconanalysis.com – The man suspected of killing two people and injuring six others in a mass shooting at a downtown Minneapolis apartment complex Wednesday was facing eviction after a string of incidents including assault and allegedly showing a gun to apartment management, according to court documents.In a press conference early Thursday afternoon, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans announced his agency will specifically investigate the officers' use of force. Evans says the suspect is believed to be 35-year-old Carlton Neal Johnson, but that still needs confirmation from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office. Evans said the autopsy is underway, and believes "he died in an exchange of gunfire."Interim Minneapolis Police Chief Bill Peterson said during a Wednesday news conference that police were familiar with the suspected shooter.Peterson and Mayor Jacob Frey gave an update on the conditions of the injured officers later Thursday afternoon.
Officer Joseph Michnowski underwent surgery Wednesday after he was shot twice in the stomach. He's still hospitalized as of late Thursday.Officer Yahye Ahmed, who was shot in the leg, was released from the hospital early Thursda afternoon. A third officer was also injured at the scene by glass when he smashed the window of a locked squad car in order to disable its siren.Evans also confirmed the identities of the two residents who were killed: 61-year-old Muse Afrah and 63-year-old Dale Henry Spry.
Johnson's history at the apartment complexJohnson signed a lease at the Shoreline Plaza complex, formerly known as Loring Towers, on 15 East Grant Street in March 2025. On June 16, a law firm representing the apartment sent him a letter informing him that his lease would be terminated on June 29.The letter listed six incidents starting in January, including one in March in which Johnson allegedly "assaulted a resident on the premises."On June 11, Johnson entered the management office and openly displayed a firearm to staff members, the eviction notice states. Around that same time, he made multiple statements to residents that he had obtained a new gun.
Two days later, the letter says Johnson flashed his gun to people on a nearby sidewalk. According to court filings, Johnson contacted the apartment management and asked for a second chance. A letter sent by the law firm informs him not to display a gun to others on the building premises and comply with Minnesota conceal and carry laws.The eviction complaint says Johnson "continued to breach the lease and last chance directive." On June 19, Johnson made "concerning verbal statements" about using a gun to a security officer while lifting up his shirt and showing his firearm.
Then on June 25, Johnson walked around the block with his firearm visible and brandished a firearm at another resident in the common area. The complaint says police were called, and Johnson attempted to bribe staff to tell him who called police. According to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, police said Johnson, who had a legal permit to carry, displayed the weapon but it did not leave his waistband.
The office determined he could not be charged due to insufficient evidence. That's also why the office didn't use Minnesota's Red Flag law, which allows the courts to take guns from a person who could harm themselves or others. Other courts, though, did deem him a threat.Sources told WCCO that Johnson had been evicted from his apartment earlier Wednesday.
Court documents also show Johnson was scheduled for a trial and had a hearing on Sept. 11.Documents show Johnson was also the subject of a restraining order. The 27-year-old mother of his child said that between March 6, 2023 and March 10, 2023, he had sent over 120 text messages with "vulgar insults and threats" from 10 different phone numbers.
"There's bullets going everywhere"Another victim who was shot and is expected to survive is Jan Peterson, a property manager at Shoreline Plaza Apartments."Jan is a very nice person, and she helped me when I didn't have no other help," said resident Albert Morse. "So I can say that she was a terrific person to me, and she helped me to go forward to get my life straightened out."Brian Swedberg says he was smoking behind the apartment building when he heard gunfire. He rushed upstairs back to his apartment."Came through the door, seeing all the blood and everything.
There was a victim lying in the main entry," Swedberg said. "Was told there was another one out the door."Swedberg says he also heard a third person behind a door, seemingly injured, calling 911."I'm former military and a Marine, and I was set off," Swedberg said. "I mean, my head was on a swivel and the anxiety kicked in a little bit, but I just started praying and b-lining and being done."Swedberg, who says he was stuck inside his apartment for more than 15 hours, is also thanking first responders for their quick and massive response."I just continue to pray for those victims and everybody that was involved.
There's a lot of people that are stressed out in the building," Swedberg said.Kody Kolb, executive chef at Nicollet Diner across the street, sprung into action after an employee coming in for her shift was outside the door as gunshots were going off. Soon after, Kolb says he noticed a huge police and SWAT presence. He said he didn't know if the gunfire was coming from police or the suspect.Kolb told those inside to stay calm and locked the door, and he called employees to tell them not to come to work."It's scary, there's bullets going everywhere.
At this point you don't know where the guy is, you don't know if he's on the roof. They have a perfect shot to the restaurant from the roof over there," Kolb said.The diner was on lockdown for two hours with employees and customers inside. "I'm just happy none of my employees got hurt.
My heart goes out to the victims' families and everyone, including the shooter," he said.Kolb said he was more composed during Wednesday's tragedy because the diner had dealt with another fatal shooting at the same apartment one year ago.For anonymous, confidential help, people can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224.Sexual Assault Resources (SOS – Ramsey County) Sexual Violence Center (SVC – Hennepin County) Aurora Center (U of MN) 360 Communities (Dakota County) Hope Center (Rice County) Canvas Health (Washington County) Alexandra House (Anoka County)General Sites for information related to sexual assault and resources throughout Minnesota: Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual AssaultGeneral Sexual Assault Websites: Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
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